The next event in the life of Jesus portrayed in Luke 7 is one that should touch every heart. Soon after Jesus’ healing of the Centurion’s servant, He was on the road again. This time He enters a little town called Nain, and immediately is confronted with something that touches the deep recesses of His compassion.
“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” [Luke 7:11-13]
Then comes the best part! “He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” [7:14-15]
No one approached Jesus for help this time. No one was sent to see if He would respond to their request. Jesus saw the need before anyone in His entourage did. And He responded before anyone in the company of the grieving mother asked. Isn’t that an amazing compassion?
Jesus told the grieving mom not to cry and then He pushed back against the very thing that provoked her tears – death. This, of course, was a temporary restraining of death. This young man, like Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, would face physical death again. But our wonderful LORD, who wept at death and felt such compassion for the grieving, would by His very own death and resurrection overcome death itself. He brings eternal life to His own.
Now we have eternal life through Him and we wait for that day when even physical death will be banished from the King’s Kingdom forever. Hallelujah!
