Raising the Dead in Nain:

Context:

- Jesus had healed the centurion's servant from afar.

- A great crowd went with him to Nain, a small village about 20 miles from Caperaum (mentioned only once in scripture).

- He came upon a funeral procession.

- A widow had lost her only son.

- The crowd with Jesus met the crowd from the town.

- Jesus would again interface with real needs, of real people, in the real world.

Luke 7:13-14 "...And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise...”

How did Jesus respond to weeping?

- "...he had compassion..."

Does Jesus respond to our tears?

- blessings may come to us when out of reason we speak and God answers.

- we get our best blessings when out of our afflictions we cry out to him and his compassion replies.

What did the young man do?

- he responded to Jesus' words.

- he sat up, and spoke.

What do we do when Jesus speaks to us?

Is there anything Jesus tells us to do that can't be done?

- no matter how dead we've been, physically or spiritually, we can respond to Jesus.

- we can arise and live when Jesus calls us.

What would happen if Jesus gave a general call to all who were dead?

John 5:25-29 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment..."

How did the people respond to this event?

Luke 7:16 "...Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!...”

- fear and glorification of God.

- recognition of God among them.

Luke 7:17 "...And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country..."

- the truth of His existence and power spread out to the surrounding country. Not only to the whole of Judea, but even to a prison east of the Dead Sea (Next section about John the Baptist)

How would you respond if you went to a funeral and the dead person was raised to life?

Do you remember the lesson from the healing of the official from Capernaum who came to Cana to request healing for his son?

John 4:48 "...So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe...”

- believing He can is different than believing He will.

- believing there is a God is different than believing God is with us.

What was supposed to happen when Jesus touched the funeral bier?

- according to ceremonial laws, He would become unclean.

- this is again the difference that Jesus makes. Instead of a dangerous world making God's people unclean, the presence of Jesus changes the world from unclean to clean.