Jesus Raises The Widow's Son Series

Verse thirteen says that “he had compassion on her” in the original language this is one word (esplanchnisthe), and is the strongest possible word to use to express sympathy, pity and feeling. We have a Savior who pays attention to our tears. Sometimes when our heart has been broken we may wonder, “Does anyone even care about me?” The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses …” Jesus was and continues to be moved by the hurts and sorrows of his people.

Notice with me that all the initiative in this conversation was taken by the Lord; and then not in response to faith, but only in response to grief and human need.

“Don’t weep” is easy to say if it is not happening in your life, or it not your son. We often tell others not to cry, essentially because it makes us uncomfortable. But Jesus told her not to weep because it was unnecessary and inappropriate.

He Touched the Coffin (vv. 14-15a)

Jesus then touched the coffin, bringing to a halt the funeral procession. Verse fourteen, “Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.” Then with absolutely no ceremony Jesus simply instructed the boy to rise up, which is immediately evident by his sitting up and speaking. “… And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” He spoke to the corpse and said “Young man, get up!” It was the words a parent would speak to a child when it was time to get up in the morning. I can remember my Dad always said, “Get up, son!” When my Dad said; “Get up, son!” You knew it was not a suggestion, it was a command!Verse fifteen says, “So he who was dead sat up and began to speak….” Luke says that the boy sat up and began to talk. What would you say if you awoke and found yourself bound and in a coffin?

The silence of Scripture as to what the young man, or for that matter Jairus’ daughter or Lazarus, expressed as they “crossed the great divide” is thought provoking. It is instructive that although many in our day speak of what they witnessed as a result of their supposed “Near Death Experience’s,” as far as we know these biblical examples of individuals brought back from the dead did not lift the curtain on the after life.

He Gave Him Back To His Mother. (v. 15b)

Perhaps the most beautiful words of this miracle are found in verse fifteen where we read, “… And He presented him to his mother.”

Luke is the only Gospel writer to give us an account of this resurrection miracle. There are only two other such miracles reported in the Gospels – the daughter of Jairus (Mk. 5:22-43) and Lazarus, (John 11) the brother of Mary and Martha. The truth is strictly speaking these should not be called “resurrections” but rather “resuscitations.” They had physical life restored but they later died again. A resurrection is occurs when a person is raised to life never to die again and Jesus is the only one to accomplish this!

Without even the presence of faith Jesus gave this woman back her son. As one commentator on these verses said, “Perhaps he did this deliberately to teach us that someday even though we are not present on earth to exercise faith, He will make the grave yield it victims; our bodies will be raised again and claimed as we return from the skies in company with our wonderful Lord. The apostle Paul in his letter to church at Thessalonica wrote, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18). What a meeting that will be!!! He will give our loved ones back to us and us to them, and forever we shall live together in His presence.” [Ivor Powell Luke’s Thrilling Gospel (Grand Rapids: Kregel Publishing, 1965) p. 170]