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a Greek class at a well-known seminary, the professor asked the students
to study the story about the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. They were
supposed to translate the passage from the Greek into English and then
write a report about their observations. Near the end of the assignment
three students decided to test the hearts of their fellow colleagues.
So one of the three students dressed as a homeless man and help was obtained
to make him appear as if he had some realistic looking wounds and blood.
He lay down on the ground along a dormitory path and waited to see if
anyone would stop to help. To their surprise, none of the seminary students
stopped or offered help. After telling this story Chuck Swindoll added, “What
do you want to bet their academic work was flawless . . . insightful
. . . and handed in on time?” (Chuck Swindoll, Tales of the Tardy
Oxcart. Word Publishing. 1998. p. 105). The actions of the seminary students
revealed that their biblical knowledge did not result in compassionate
hearts. Seminary is primarily designed to give one knowledge. How a man
or woman responds to God as a result of biblical studies determines what
happens in his or her heart.
Trip To Nain. This illustration of the seminary
students prepares us for our next study in the life of Jesus Christ,
which is found in Luke 7:11-17. The passage reveals that Jesus has recently
left Capernaum where He has healed a centurion’s slave. He has
traveled about 25 miles southeast to the small city of Nain, which was
located on the north slope of the Hill of Moreh. Today the city is alive,
but in the 1800s only a few brick walls and tombs outside the city boundary
remained. It was desolate.
When Jesus arrived in the city, He was not alone. His twelve disciples
and a large crowd were following.
Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. (NASB) Luke 7:11 As Jesus approached Nain, He saw a Jewish funeral.
Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. (NASB) Luke 7:12 In ancient times it was common for a city to be surrounded by a high
wall (Josh. 2:15). The wall was designed to provide protection against
wild animals, criminals, and foreign armies (Jer. 39:2). The city gate
was also a place of business in Jewish cities. Jewish cemeteries were
outside the city wall in order to avoid pollution by dead corpses (Josh.
8:29; Matt. 27:52-53). Therefore, it is not surprising that the dead
man was being carried through the gate of the city.
The Funeral. According to the ancient Jewish
custom in Galilee, the parents of the dead person would walk in front
of the funeral procession. The dead person would follow next, followed
by friends and guests. Jewish custom required that the dead person be
washed, have his or her nails clipped, his or her hair cut, be anointed,
the body wrapped in linen cloth, and his or her eyes closed.
In Galilee the mother would walk in front of the funeral procession with
the other family members behind her. Then the dead body followed in a
cedar coffin, if possible, which was carried on a bier. After the dead
person, relatives, friends, and mourners followed. The Mishnah prohibited
the bier from being put down on the ground (Mishnah. (Moed Qatan 3.8).
It was customary for the mourners to accompany the body to the grave.
Jews did not cremate their dead, believing that cremation was a heathen
practice.
We are told that a large crowd followed behind the dead man. He must
have been loved by many. Two large crowds came together, one following
Jesus and the one that was part of the funeral procession. When Jesus
saw the woman in front of the funeral procession with no one behind her
and before the coffin, Jesus instantly realized that the woman was a
widow and responded with compassion.
When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” (NASB) Luke 7:13 The woman did not have a husband nor a son. There was no male to support
her. Jesus did not respond like the seminary students. He responded with
compassion. The Greek word for “compassion” implies strong
emotion - “Do not weep.”
A New Miracle. Then Jesus did something that violated Jewish law. He
touched the coffin. That was an act of religious defilement (Num. 19:11,
16). Jesus ignored their rules.
And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” (NASB) Luke 7:14 The bearers would not have dropped the coffin and bier to the ground
since that would have been forbidden, but they did stop walking. Jesus
interrupted the processional and commanded the dead man to sit up.
This is the first recorded resurrection that He performed during His
ministry. He will raise others as we will see later in Luke 8:49-56;
Luke 7:22; and John 11:20-44. There are those who claim that they can
perform the same miracles that Jesus did. If so, can they raise the
dead again and again?
This miracle also demonstrates that faith is not required for a person
to be healed. Dead men do not need to have faith! No comments are made
about his mother’s faith. Faith was not required of the dead man
or his mother. If the mother had been asked, she most likely would have
expressed doubt that her son could be returned to life.
Jesus acted alone and immediately. The dead man returned to life and
sat up.
The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. (NASB) Luke 7:15 The dead man did not need to wait for his resurrection. No one had to
pray, believe that his/her prayer had been answered, and then wait for
the answer. Jesus’ miracle was immediate and obvious to everyone. |
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