Weep Not!
Free online resources based on Jesus raising the widow’s son in Nain. This miracle can be found in the Gospel of Luke. See below for links to sermons, stories and entertaining sites for this important story.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. — Luke 7:11-14 <KJV>
Jesus Raises A Widow’s Son Miracle – Summary
After the encounter with Centurion, Jesus, and a very large entourage, traveled from Capernaum to a village called Nain. As they neared the city gate, they were met by a funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow.
When he saw the widow, Jesus had compassion on her. He said,
“Don’t Cry.”
Jesus touched the bier and the men carrying the corpse stood fast. He then said to the young man,
“Young man, I tell you, get up!”
The young man sat in up in the coffin and began to speak. Jesus then returned him to his mother.
A reverential awe spread throughout the crowd. They glorified God saying,
“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
Luke writes that his fame spread throughout Judea. There is no doubt that this is a true statement. Jesus was traveling with many disciples. Near Nain, they met a large crowd at the city gate taking out the dead man. There were far too many witnesses to deny that this was truly a miracle.
Note the praise the crowd offered – a great prophet has arisen, and God has visited His people. Both statements are true, and based on Scripture. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Isaiah 9:6-7, Matthew 1:19-23, Luke 1:30-33, 1:68-75, John 14:6-14, Acts 3:22-26, Colossians 1:13-20, Hebrews 1:1-5)
Widows and orphans have a special place in the heart of God. This woman was facing not only the grief of losing an only son, but the very dim prospects, in the natural, of life without male support. God promises to be a Father to the fatherless, to place the lonely in families, and be a defender of widows (Psalm 68:4-6). He gives justice to widows and protects their property (Deuteronomy 10:17-18, Proverbs 15:25). God promises that they can trust Him, that He will hear their cry, and protect them. (Exodus 22:22-31, Jeremiah 49:11) Jesus was going to show this widow the true compassion of God, which goes way beyond her needs, to her heart’s deepest desires. For God is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that you dare ask or think, infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams. (Psalm 37:4-5, Ephesians 3:20)
Jesus could have put an arm around the widow and said, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” (Job 1:21) And although this statement is in the Bible, it is not the will of God. Death is an enemy. Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy. (1 John 3:8) Its the devil that comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give life, and give it more abundantly. (John 10:10) This young man died prematurely. Jesus spoke the Word of Life to the man, not the body in the casket, but the inner man, and told him to arise. For Believers, not even death can separate you from God’s Love. (Romans 8:35-39)
Unlike the Centurion, Nobleman, and other miracles of Jesus, there was not a clear declaration or step of faith. Compassion brought Jesus to the widow, as is always the case with Love. (1 John 4:16-21) Luke does not mention any prayers or a faith profession given on behalf of the widow or her son. Consider this, everything Jesus did was by divine plan and purpose. It was no coincidence that Jesus met this funeral. Jesus told the widow to stop crying. She was focused on her loss, the grief was overwhelming, and she was worried about her future. The solution was now in front of her. Note the number of times God, or an angel, said, “fear not” to folks in the Bible. There was fear present in her tears – along with torment, worry, and despair, and these undermine faith. However, perfect love casts out all fear. Its doubtful that anyone in either crowd had ever witnessed a resurrection – although some would later (Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus). Based on their experience, it was an impossibility. I suggest that it took great faith for the mother to stop crying, and for that brief moment to place her trust in Jesus, THE solution. In an instant, her son was restored, grief was gone and replaced by joy, and their future together was very bright. Let this Truth sink in, its never impossible or too late, because all things are possible if you believe. (Genesis 18:14, Jeremiah 32:27, Matthew 17:20, 19:26, Mark 9:23, 11:22-24, Luke 1:37, 1 John 4:7-19) Don’t let unbelief rob you of God’s Goodness. (Matthew 13:57-58, Mark 6:4-6, Hebrews 11:6, James 1:5-8)
But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).
And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). — Ephesians 2:4-6 <AMP>
Jesus was ministering to the widow under the Old Covenant. On this side of the cross, Believers have an even better relationship with their Heavenly Father. You are the Body of Christ. You have been made alive in Jesus, and are a joint-heir with him. Your standing is secure and you have been empowered to be an imitator of Jesus. You have the ability and authority to resist the enemy, even death, in the name of Jesus and because of his precious blood shed for you. Study the Word, build your faith, and experience victory in every area of your life! (John 1:12-13, 3:14-18, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:3-6, 5:1-2, 6:10-18, Hebrews 2:9-18, 1 John 1:5-10, Revelation 12:11)
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. — Mark 11:23 <KJV>
Jesus saw the need and called that which was not as though it was. (Romans 4:17) Jesus is the Son of God, but he operated on Earth as the Son of Man. He was obedient in every way, and only spoke God’s Word. By speaking to the dead man, he was exercising a faith principle that he explained after the Barren Fig Tree Miracle. As Paul writes in Romans, Salvation comes the same way, believe in your heart, speak with your mouth. Faith believes before it sees. It is built by continually hearing God’s Word. When you know the integrity of God, and the certainty of His Word, it gets much easier to agree with it, even in the face of contradictory information. Believers are instructed to be imitators of Jesus. This seems intimidating when you read a miracle like the widow’s son being raised from the dead. So start where you are. Study God’s Word, plant that good seed in your spirit, and follow the advice of Jesus when asked by the people how to perform the works of God, “This is the work of God, to believe in him whom God has sent.” When you know your Heavenly Father and His Word intimately, His Goodness, Love, and the Blessing will naturally flow through you to the world. (Matthew 21:18-24, Mark 11:12-26, John 6:25-40, 14:10-17, 15:1-10, Romans 10:8-10, 10:17, Ephesians 1:1-3, Philippians 2:5-11)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. — Proverbs 18:21 <AMP>
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: — 1 Peter 3:10 <KJV>
If you do a word or topic search in the Bible for tongue, mouth, or words, you will notice that God has a lot to say on the subject. Jesus explains that what you have stored in your heart, comes out of the mouth, and this is what defiles a man. He also reminds you of the danger of idle, careless, or unproductive words – words without a Kingdom assignment. James writes that the tongue is a fire, and difficult to tame. David prays that God will place a guard over his mouth. Man was made in the image of God, and designed by God to exercise dominion through His words. When man fell, he gained a new spiritual father, Satan, who uses deception to cause men to curse themselves and others. When you are Born Again, you can free yourself from his bondage. Authority belongs to you as one born on this planet. As a child of God, you share in His Anointing, or as Peter writes, a partaker of the divine nature. (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 141:1-4, Matthew 12:33-37, 15:10-11, Mark 7:18-23, Luke 6:43-45, 10:17-20, 2 Corinthians 11:3, Ephesians 4:14-32, James 3:2-12, 1 Peter 5:8-10, 2 Peter 1:1-8, Revelation 12:9)
Luke does not say what led to the young man’s death. One thing is certain, it was not God’s will for him to die early. Otherwise, Jesus was rebelling against his Father’s will when he raised the widow’s son. Its clear that his death was the work of the enemy. Satan uses all forms of deception to steal, kill, and destroy. In the case of Job, it was great fear. Unbelief killed off a whole generation of the children of Israel in the wilderness. At other times, it was careless and stout words, or outright rebellion. God has placed before everyone Life and death, Blessing and cursing. He wants you to choose Blessing and Life. He wants you to choose Him. This is done by your faith in Him, and your words. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Numbers 14:26-35, 21:4-9, Job 3:25, Psalm 141:1-4, Malachi 3:13-14, John 10:10, 15:1-11, Romans 10:8-11, Hebrews 3:7-19)
The widow and her son fade quickly from Scripture. Luke records the praise of the crowd, but nothing specific from either the widow, or her son. One can only imagine the number of times they told their story to family and friends, how he was dead, but then he was alive. You cannot experience the Glory of God and not share your testimony. God is Good. No matter what the world throws at you, expect the very best from your Heavenly Father. God is not constrained by time. His mercy endures forever, and He is never too late.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:37-39 <KJV>
Read the story in five popular translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message:
Jesus Raises Widow’s Son Miracle – Luke 7:11-17
Additional Resources
The Son Of The Widow Of Nain – A week of children’s devotions on Luke 7:11-17
Jesus Raises A Widow’s Son – Activity and coloring pages
The Son Of The Widow Of Nain – Children’s activity pages
The Raising Of The Widow’s Son – A contrast of the two miracles in Luke 7.
Did God Really Say… – My blog commentary on the integrity of God’s Word
Search for Other Christian Web Sites.
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