The Time Jesus Stopped a Funeral
It was the funeral of a mother's only son.
Jesus was traveling with His disciples with a large crowd following Him. As He was entering the city of Nain, a funeral procession met them leaving the city.
The dead man was the only son of his mother - who was a widow (Luke 7:12). Imagine how alone she must have felt. Not only was her husband dead, but now her only son had died.
While her economic condition may have varied from poor to wealthy, her grief would have been immense.
Jesus did not ignore this widow’s grief.
When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Luke 7:13)
How could He tell a grieving widow who has just lost her only son not to weep? Imagine if you went to a funeral and told the grieving family, “Don’t cry.” That would be an incredibly heartless statement - unless you could do something to fix their grief.
Jesus told the widowed mother not to weep because He could fix it.
Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. (Luke 7:14-15)
Jesus stopped a funeral and turned it into a celebration. Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). He has the power to raise the dead back to life.
Jesus is the one who has come to crush the one who lured humanity into sin.
The news of Jesus raising the widow of Nain’s son spread like wildfire.
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. (Luke 7:16-17)
The news of one who can raise the dead is news that is worth repeating. This news is the news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15).