Jesus Raises the Widow's Son

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 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.

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, 'Don't cry.'

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!'

The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. 'A great prophet has appeared among us,' they said. 'God has come to help his people.' This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

This widow had lost everything. Her husband was dead; now her only son was dead too. In that culture, without husband or son, she had no provider, no protector, no future. She faced poverty and vulnerability.

No one asked Jesus to help. He wasn't responding to faith or a request. He simply saw her grief, and 'his heart went out to her'—the Greek word suggests His gut was wrenched with compassion. He touched the funeral bier (making Himself ritually unclean), spoke to the dead young man, and restored him to life.

Jesus gave the son back to his mother. He restored not just a life but a family, a future, a hope.