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Chronologically, it is believed that this story followed after the story of the Roman Centurion. After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus went to Capernaum where He healed the Centurion's servant. From there He went to Nain, about 20 miles S-W of Capernaum near the boarder of Samaria, where He healed a widow's son. It is strange that neither Matthew, Mark or John records this story if indeed it was the first that Jesus ever brought anybody back from the dead.
Notice two groups of people were present. His Disciples and the friends and relatives of the dead man. No mention is made of the names of either the widow or her son, but much can be learned about life from this short text. Notice that he was a young man, a only son, thus the only support of his mother, her being a widow. She obviously was well known and well liked as many of the cities people were supporting her in her need.
But even more can be learned about Christ from this text. He had healed those of a "working faith" and those of a "trusting faith", each time the healing was done at the request of another, but there is something different about this case. No apparent request was made or no demonstration of faith was evident.
Why, then, did Christ raise this young man from the dead? When Jesus saw the poor widow He had compassion on her and He said, "Weep not," and He could have added, "He who is dead shall presently be alive," Notice His compassion was for the living and reminding ourselves that at that time, Christ was busy teaching, by word and deed, his Disciples, perhaps He was saying that we should not grieve for the dead but rather have compassion for the living. We can glean something else from this text, Christ knows of our need even before we ask and often, out of great love and compassion, fulfills those needs without our asking.
Notice the power of His WORD, "Young man, I say unto you, arise." His Word has the same power today as it did 2,000 years ago. So, he that was dead arose and began to speak. Two miracles was performed here. One on the body and one on the brain, evidenced by getting up and by speaking.
This power is available today and is evidenced by those who were dead in sin and who are now, alive in Christ. This is no less a miracle. Now one last point. What effect did this have on the people who saw it. "Fear seized them." Out of this fear they glorified God. Notice how Luke records the fact that the story of this incident spread throughout Galilee and even John the Baptist heard and sent his disciples to check it out.
So what was fast becoming the opinion of the common people of that day about Jesus? They believed that a "great Prophet" had risen up in their midst, God had visited His people.
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