11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, 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. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. (Luke 7:11-17 KJV)
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
We have here the account of Jesus raising a widow’s son at Nain—a miracle not mentioned by Matthew or Mark, though Matthew refers generally to the dead being raised in Christ’s reply to John’s disciples (Mt 11:5).
This miracle took place the day after Jesus healed the centurion’s servant (Luke 7:11). Jesus was constantly doing good, never wasting a day. It occurred at the gate of a small town called Nain, near Capernaum.
The event was witnessed by two large crowds—one following Jesus, and the other attending the funeral of the young man (Luke 7:11-12). This ensured ample testimony to the truth of the miracle. Raising the dead, unlike healing diseases, cannot be done by natural means, so this was a clear demonstration of divine power.
The young man had died early in life. He was being carried out of the city for burial, in keeping with Jewish customs. He was the only son of his widowed mother, who now faced not only grief but utter desolation. Her sorrow was deep, intensified by the fact that she was already a widow. Many from the city were with her, mourning and offering comfort.
Jesus showed both compassion and divine power in what followed. When he saw the grieving mother, he was moved with compassion and said, “Don’t weep” (Luke 7:13). No one had asked him to help—his action sprang purely from his loving nature. His words were not empty; they carried the authority of the one who had power over death itself.
He came forward, touched the bier, and the bearers stopped (Luke 7:14). Then, with divine authority, he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.” Though the man was dead and incapable of response, the word of Christ imparted life. Immediately, the young man sat up and began to speak (Luke 7:15). Jesus then gave him back to his mother, not to use him for personal acclaim, but to restore a broken family. This was a true act of mercy.
The effect on the people was profound. Fear and awe came over them, and they glorified God (Luke 7:16). They recognized Jesus as a great prophet and saw his act as a divine visitation, as foretold in Luke 1:68. This miracle gave hope to those waiting for Israel’s redemption.
The news spread quickly. The report of what Jesus had done traveled throughout Judea and the surrounding region (Luke 7:17). Though many heard of Jesus, not all believed. It’s possible to hear the gospel and still not be changed by it.