As Jesus approached the city of Nain... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

He (Jesus) came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still.
Luke 7:14.

As Jesus approached the city of Nain with His disciples and a great multitude, a funeral procession was coming out of the city gate towards Him. A widow had lost her only son. What unspeakable sorrow! In her beloved child the woman had lost the one person who would care for her in the future. The inhabitants of Nain showed their sympathy, but they were no real help in her need.

When Jesus saw that, He "had compassion on her". This means more than a passing emotion. Jesus felt deeply for that mourning woman as none other could. He not only saw her despair, the measure of her pain and her justifiable worries concerning her future: His heart was touched.

The Lord said to the grieving woman: "Do not weep." Such words are, of course, not meant to forbid weeping by those who are sad. What Jesus said signifies that He knew what He was about to do. He stepped forward. We often read this passage when sick or troubled people come to Jesus for His help. In this case a mourner is standing before Him whose situation is, humanly speaking, hopeless, so that He must take the initiative. He does so today in situations when we are not even in a position to seek His help. Jesus touched the bier; the bearers stopped in their tracks. Then the Saviour spoke to the dead person, "Young man, I say to you, arise" And the corpse came to life! How impressively the Lord Jesus proves that He is the Son of God with power over life and death. Yet He is merciful at the same time, coming to our aid readily, even when we see no solution.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 40:13-41:10 · Romans 9:30-33