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Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
Series C

I. He knows our sorrows, v.11     Ps. 86:15, 103:13; Lam. 3:32;

II. He feels our sorrows, vv.12-13     John 11:33-35; Heb. 4:15

III. He removes our sorrows, vv.14-17       1 Kings 17:21 Word Pictures in the New Testament, Vol. 2

V.12 The only son of his mother (monogenes huios teôi meôtri autouô). Only begotten son to his mother (dative case). The compound adjective monogenes (monos and genos) is common in the old Greek and occurs in the N.T. about Jesus (John 3:16, 18). The "death of a widow’s only son was the greatest misfortune conceivable" (Easton). And she was a widow (kai auteô en cheôra). This word cheôra gives the finishing touch to the pathos of the situation. The word is from cheôros, bereft. The mourning of a widow for an only son is the extremity of grief (Plummer). Much people (ochlos hikanos). Considerable crowd as often with this adjective hikanos. Some were hired mourners, but the size of the crowd showed the real sympathy of the town for her. Luke 7:13 The Lord saw her (idoôn auteôn ho kurios). The Lord of Life confronts death (Plummer) and Luke may use Kurios here purposely. Had compassion (esplagchtheô). First aorist (ingressive) passive indicative of splagchnizomai. Often love and pity are mentioned as the motives for Christ’s miracles (Matthew 14:14; 15:32, etc.). It is confined to the Synoptics in the N.T. and about Christ save in the parables by Christ. Weep not (meô klaie). Present imperative in a prohibition. Cease weeping.

Luke 7:15  Sat up (anekathisen). First aorist active indicative. The verb in the N.T. only here and Acts 9:40. Medical writers often used it of the sick sitting up in bed (Hobart, Med. Lang. of St. Luke, Gave him to his mother (edoôken auton teôi meôtri autou). Tender way of putting it. "For he had already ceased to belong to his mother" (Bengel).

Barnes Notes on the New Testament

LUKE 7:16 The raising of this young man was one of the most decisive and instructive of our Lord’s miracles. There was no doubt that he was dead. He met the funeral procession, as it were, by accident, and by a word He restored him to life. All those who had the best opportunity of judging—the mother, the friends—believed him to be dead, and were about to bury him. The evidence that he came to life was decisive. He sat up, he spoke, and "all" were impressed with the full assurance that God had raised him to life. Many witnesses were present, and none doubted that Jesus "by a word" had restored him to his weeping mother.

The whole scene was affecting. Here was a widowed mother who was following her only son, her stay and hope, to the grave. He was carried along— one in the prime of life and the only comfort of his parent—impressive proof that the young, the useful, the vigorous, and the lovely may die. Jesus met them, apparently a stranger. He approached the procession as if he had something important to say; he touched the bier and the procession stood still. He was full of compassion for the weeping parent, and by a word restored the youth, stretched upon the bier, to life. He sat up, and spoke. Jesus therefore had power over the dead. He also has power to raise sinners, dead in trespasses and sins, to life. He can speak the word, and, though in their death of sin they are borne along toward ruin, he can open their eyes, and raise them up, and restore them revived to REAL life or to their friends. Often he raises up children in this manner, and gives them, converted to God, to their friends, imparting as REAL joy as he gave to the widow of Nain by raising her son from the dead, And every child should remember, if he has pious parents, that there is "no way" in which he can give so much joy to them as by embracing Him who is the resurrection and the life, and resolving to live to his glory.

 CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

There was a boy whose name was Kenneth. Ken was a normal boy until his mother noticed something she hoped she was wrong about. She wasn’t wrong. They did some tests on young Ken and found that he had Cancer. Worse than that, they later found that there was nothing they could do for him. Ken would never grow up. He would die years before he could leave Grade School.

One night when he was in the mood to talk, he asked him mother: "What is it like to die?" His mother was ready for that one. She asked him: "Ken, do you remember when we went to that Birthday party last year at your Uncle’s House?" We were having such a good time that we stayed pretty late and you were very tired. So you laid down on your Uncle & Aunt’s big bed and you went to sleep.

When it was time for us to go home, your Dad lifted you up in his big strong arms and carried you to the car on those wide shoulders of his. Then he put you into your bed and all we did was took your shoes off.

Ken, you went to sleep in one place and you woke up at home in your own bed. Ken, that’s what it’s like to die. You were baptized and you have faith in Jesus. Someday he is going to what your Father did. He will take you in his strong arms after you have fallen asleep here and he will take you to your Heavenly Home and you will never be sick again.

When Jesus raised the young man at the City of Nain, he showed us what He will do on the last day. His powerful Word will awaken our sleeping bodies and reunite them with our souls.

That’s when we "will be with the Lord forever." So whenever this question comes to you, remember Ken and remember the young man Jesus raised from death and you will never be frightened of death again.

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