JESUS RAISES A YOUNG MAN FROM THE DEAD

Passage: Luke 7:11-17

Key verse: 7:14

NIV

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son(A)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 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. 13 When the Lord(B) saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”(C) 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe(D) and praised God.(E) “A great prophet(F) has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”(G) 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.(H)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

11 Soon afterward[a] he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, (A)the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, (B)he had compassion on her and (C)said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched (D)the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, (E)arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[b] (F)gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and (G)they glorified God, saying, (H)“A great prophet has arisen among us!” and (I)“God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 7:11 Some manuscripts The next day
  2. Luke 7:15 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, 'Don't cry' (11-13). Jesus, his disciples and a large crowd were on their way to Nain. As they approached the town gate, they were met by a funeral procession. The only son of a widow had died and a large crowd from the town was with this widow to bury her son. This widow had lost everything - her husband and then her son. Her future looked bleak and sorrowful. Jesus' heart went out to this widow. He said, 'Don't cry.' Life can make us cry but Jesus comforts us in all of our sorrows. Second, 'I say to you, get up!' (14-17). Jesus had more in mind than comforting this widow. He went up and touched the bier. The bearers stopped. Then Jesus said, 'Young man, I say to you, get up!' The dead man got up and was alive again! Jesus is God who gives life to the dead. The people praised God. They recognized that God had come to help his people. Jesus gives hope to the hopeless and turns our sorrows into joy.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your compassion and life-giving power. Please comfort the sorrowful and give new life to the spiritually dead.

One Word: Jesus can raise the dead back to life