March 24, 2024
BEYOND BELIEF: FROM DEATH TO LIFE
THE HEALING OF THE WIDOW’S SON
March 24, 2024
Charles Billingsley
As we end our series on the miracles of Jesus, we find the perfect illustration of this act of Jesus in Matthew 18:12-14, one of His parables. This widow—residing in Nain—had no way to make a living now that both her husband and her son were dead. Jesus, walking with his disciples, went to this small town seeking her. The road led only to this village, a few miles from Nazareth. He said nothing to anyone else, and she was His only focus. She was the ONE He sought, for the ninety-nine were safe. Like the woman at the well, her testimony of Jesus (raising her dead son back to life) was seen or heard about by a great number, and they said, “God has visited His people.” The Shepherd sought His lost sheep, she was found, and many glorified God because of her.
Focal Passages: Luke 7:11-17, Psalm 121:5-8, 139:1-4, 34:18-19, John 11:25, Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8, Matt. 18:12-14.
The Scene:
- Read Luke 7:11-12. What is happening in the streets of the ancient city of Nain? What was the group of people in the “extremely large” (possibly even one or two thousand) group, and who was the second group of much less, though still “large”? What city was a close neighbor? Where did the two groups meet? What did each represent?
- Can you imagine two households (not these groups) next to each other, one having a giant party of celebration, the other having lost a close relative; how would each view the other? Do you think there could have been contention for a moment, or respect?
- Read vv. 12-13. Who are the four characters in this miracle? What was the common denominator between the two males? What did Jesus see? How often do we see Jesus meet someone and “have compassion on them”? Do we have compassion for people?
His compassion:
- What did Jesus say to the woman? Do you think she understood what He meant? Do you ever consider that Jesus has compassion on you when trouble comes? In verse 13, when Jesus “saw” her, did He see her deepest need? Does He see your deepest needs?
- Read Psa. 121:5-8. Does the Lord ever take His eyes off you? How often are you aware of His constant watchfulness? How often are you aware of the needs of the people you meet throughout your day?
- How much did He know about her? Was He totally aware of her entire situation, and every need she had, now that she was not only a widow but also the mother of a dead son? Read Psalm 139:1-4. During times when you are choosing the wrong path (even in such a “small” matter like traffic, are you very conscious of the fact that Jesus sees your sins, fears, and faults as well as the good you are doing?
He feels her pain:
- Read Psa. 34:18-19 and Luke 7:14. What did Pastor Charles mean when he said, “Real compassion requires action”? Read Luke 10:30-37. Which of the three would you have been? His touch: Why would Jesus have been able to touch the son and not be unclean?
His power: How powerful is Jesus? Read Rom. 1:20 and Luke 7:16-17. How did the people of Nain react? Did Jesus give him a new body or new life for his soul?
- Read Rom. 5:8. Which is stronger, the power of death or the power of our God? This coming Sunday we will celebrate that death itself it about to die!
Close:
There is still a town called Nein (Nain) today in the same area, though not at all large. In Luke’s writing it was called a “city”, but no record is found to give a number to the residents. In fact, the Romans felt the village of Nazareth—as well as Nain—so ineffective that neither was even listed by them among towns, which might explain why Nathanael had remarked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” This small village (or city in the time of Christ) was only twelve miles from where Jesus grew up. Obviously, Jesus went to Nain for only one purpose: because this grieving widow, without husband or son, now without a way to have food to eat, was one of His chosen ones. He sought no one else, talked with no one else, and apparently left after giving the mother back her son, fully alive and well. He had sought the “one” from the ninety-nine.
Can you imagine the scene? The dust of the area, the heat, people walking in the two large groups and “colliding” as the jovial crowd met the distraught grieving mother who had no idea how she would eat tomorrow. Jesus knew this and had compassion on her. He walked straight to her to say, “Do not weep.” He had to have presented authority, love, compassion and more as the large crowd with her stopped long enough for Jesus to lay His hand on the “coffin,” whatever that was at the time. When He addressed the son of the widow, Jesus told him to “arise”. Some would have jeered, but they would have stopped the moment there was some movement, then the son sat up. He would have looked around, knew he felt wonderful, saw his mother and immediately would have run to her. Jesus would have probably walked away—He had done what He had come for. As recorded in Matt. 11:5, as Jesus responded to John the Baptist’s question, “Are you the One?” He would have replied, “Tell John what you see…the dead are raised up!” One day every knee will bow. Do it now, before it’s eternally too late. Believe on Jesus Christ with all your heart, repent of your sins, and confess Him as Lord.
By Sandy Day
March 24, 2024