The Widow of Nain - Luke 7:11-17

After healing the centurion’s servant the day before, Jesus, his disciples and many others went to the city of Nain. As this group approached the city gates, “behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.” Let’s stop and consider why this information is important. This is more than an account of a woman who was sad over the loss of her only son, implying that she had several daughters to care for her. We have to remember that in this society, women left their family home when married and became a part of their husband’s family, meaning that these implied daughters would have either already or will shortly leave the mother to join their husband’s family, leaving the mother to fend for herself. However, with a son, his wife will join the family and help care for her as she grows older and her son will be responsible for supporting them both. Basically, this was a woman losing her family, being sentenced to a life alone, and it also took away any means of support for her. I’m sure she absolutely loved this son, but his passing wasn’t just her mourning the loss of his presence, but mourning the loss of her ability to eat, live in safety, and possibly live in her home. It is very possible that as this woman walked out to bury her son, she was also walking out of a home, food, and companionship.

 

Looking upon this scene, “when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her Weep not.” Perhaps he was remembering his own walk out of the city on the way to bury Joseph. Perhaps he was remembering Mary’s distress at the loss of he husband. But unlike Mary, who had at least 4 sons and Jesus who were dedicated to her care, this woman had none of those. The more I learn about God as a merciful being, I feel like there is a line between experiences we need to help us grow, and experiences that are meant to demonstrate God’s love for us through his compassion. Jesus had compassion on this woman, and as JTC points out, “This day witnessed what in human estimation was a wonder greater than any before wrought by Him. He had already healed many, sometimes by a word spoken to afflicted ones present, and again when He was far from the subject of His beneficent power… but, though the sick who were nigh unto death had been saved from the grave, we have no earlier record of our Lord having commanded dread death itself to give back one it had claimed.”

 

As Jesus approached the party, Jesus, “came and touched the bier… and he said Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” Another point to consider is that at this time in Jewish history, contact with the dead was considered abhorrent and was forbidden, so Jesus approaching the bed that the dead boy lay on was probably taboo at that point. Those who witnessed this, “there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us, That God hath visited his people.” The IM makes an interesting point saying, “This statement suggests that the miracle may be prompted people to note similarities between the ministries of the Savior and two ancient prophets. Centuries earlier, Elijah had restored to life the son of a widow at Zarephath, and Elisha had raised the son of a widow in the village of Shunem, just three miles northwest of Nain.”  

 

We’ve seen before that the places where Jesus teaches ad performs miracles are sometimes significant and I wonder if the raising of this woman’s child in Nain was purposefully done to teach the people that Jesus and the great ancient prophets are connected. Surely the people who lived in those areas would have had their “claim to fame” be that Elisha had raised a boy from the dead hundreds of years earlier. A similar display by Jesus would have given him instant credibility, as the people demonstrated by calling him a prophet. I also think it’s worth noting that all three of these examples, Jesus, Elijah, and Elisha all raised the only sons of widows, and thinking forward to when Jesus raises Lazerus, he was the provider for Mary and Martha. This is an excellent illustration that Jesus is the ultimate champion of women. He does perform other miracles for the benefit of men, but these are several specific examples of Jesus, either himself or through his servants, having compassion on women who were not only alone because of death of family members, but also who were going to be destitute and suffer through no fault of their own. It’s just an interesting commentary on Jesus’ special consideration and love for women.