Luke 7:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The mother meticulously inspected her son, feeling his features, examining his eyes, nose, lips, and forehead, comprehensively observing his whole being, pondering deeply: 'Am I being deceived? Is this another child? Could it be that this is an illusion to comfort my heart amidst my sorrow, a means to heighten my grief, orchestrated by the one who raised him, presenting another in his place to ease my pain? I have no witness to confirm this event: I have never witnessed it, nor have any of those who accompany me; never has anyone seen a corpse arise from the bier.' To her son, she implored: 'Speak to me, do not be afraid; are you truly my son? Do you know who I am? Can you recognize me as your mother? I see your likeness, yet doubt the miracle; your eyes, the shape of your face, your lips—they all testify. Speak, dear child! Show me the signs of life. My joy counters my frailty; I look at you and feel restrained; I carried you as a babe; I nourished you at my breast—tell me, my child, are you truly my son? Do not fear me!' When she gained complete assurance, her sorrow transformed into joy, her weeping became a proclamation of praise to God. Grasping her son with her right hand, she traversed the city, crying out with a loud voice, 'Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together' (Ps. 33:4), for He has raised my child from the dead, regenerated me, once again turning me into a mother, and has dried my tears. May His name be glorified forever; to Him goes the praise eternally. Amen.

Therefore, those who were restored to life through the power of Christ serve as a promise of the hope that awaits us in the resurrection of the dead: this young man, Lazarus of Bethany, and the daughter of the synagogue leader. This truth was declared by the holy prophets, as the blessed Isaiah proclaimed: ‘The dead shall rise again, and those who are in the graves shall be made alive, for the dew from Thee shall heal them.’ By dew, he signifies the life-giving work of Christ, accomplished through the mediation of the Holy Spirit. The Psalmist attests to this with words directed to God, the Savior of us all. ‘When Thou turnest away Thy face, they are confounded and return to their dust. Thou sendest Thy Spirit, and they are built up, and Thou renewest the face of the earth.’ It was because of Adam’s transgression of the commandment that we turned our faces away from God and returned to our dust, for God’s decree regarding human nature was: ‘dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return.’ Yet, at the end of this age, the face of the earth will be renewed, for God the Father through the Son in the Spirit will grant life to all who lie in it. Death was the force that brought humanity to decay and corruption: death thus aged, which is to say, corrupted; for ‘that which is old and growing old is near to corruption,’ as the Scriptures declare. But Christ rejuvenates, for He is ‘Life.’ He who created from the beginning can likewise renew unto incorruption and life. It is reasonable to assert that the same divine energy and power can accomplish both creation and renewal. Hence the prophet Isaiah says, ‘He swallowed up death, becoming mighty.’ Again, he declares, ‘The Lord has taken away all weeping from every face. He has removed the reproach of His people from all the earth.’ The reproach of the people refers to the sin that brings shame and corruption, which, along with destruction, will be eradicated; thus, sorrow and death will vanish, and the tears shed because of it will cease. Therefore, do not doubt the resurrection of the dead, for long ago Christ completed it among us in divine majesty. Let no one claim that He who raised two, or even three, is incapable of granting life to all. Such words, rooted in dire ignorance, are laughable. Instead, we must recognize Him as Life and the Giver of Life by nature. And how could there not be enough Life to revive every individual? It would be akin to asserting in your misguided exaggeration that Light is surely ample for small things, yet insufficient for the vast universe. So, He who descended into the grave arose. The manner of His rising is evident, ‘For He touched, it is said, the bier, and said, “Young man, I say unto thee, arise.”’ And why was not one word sufficient to raise the man who lay there? What could be more challenging than this? What could be more potent than the Word of God? Why did He not perform the miracle solely by a word, but also touched the bier? This, dear ones, is to show you that the holy body of Christ works for the salvation of humanity. For the flesh of the Almighty Word constitutes the body of life, imbued with His power. Consider that iron, when it comes into contact with fire, produces the effect of the lyre and fulfills its purpose; likewise, since it has become the flesh of the Word, who bestows life upon all, it also possesses the power to restore life and to vanquish the effects of death and decay. May our Lord Jesus Christ also touch us, that, having freed us from wicked deeds and fleshly desires, He may unite us with the company of the saints; for He is the Giver of all good gifts, through whom, and with whom, to God the Father, be praise and dominion, with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

When the end of earthly life has extinguished the hope for continued existence, and the remains of the departed rest in the grave, it is through the Word of God that those condemned to perish are resurrected; the voice returns, the mother reappears, the son is restored, emerging from the grave, rising from the tomb. What does this grave signify, if not sinful habits? Thy grave is disbelief, thy sepulcher is your throat, for the grave opens their throat (Psalm 5:10). From this grave, Christ sets you free; from this grave, you shall be resurrected if you heed the Word of God.

Should your grave sin remain unatoned by tears of repentance, let the holy Church intercede for you. The bereaved mother, pleading for each as her cherished child, grieves for them with a sorrowful heart when she observes how destructive vices lead her offspring toward demise. We are derived from her essence, for there exists a spiritual womb of which Paul speaks: ‘So, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; comfort my womb in the Lord’ (Phlm. 1:20). Therefore, we embody the inner life of the Church, being members of her body (cf. Eph. 5:30), of her flesh and her bones. Let the mother, full of love for her children, mourn; let the throng be present, and not just the throng but a multitude, let the plethora show compassion toward the parent. Then you shall arise at the funeral and be liberated from the tomb; the ministers of your burial will cease their tasks, and you shall begin to speak words of life; all will tremble, and the example of one shall guide many. They shall praise the Lord, who has provided us with such means to evade death.

The Lord, prior to the Cross, commanded the resurrection of three individuals: the son of a widow, the daughter of a synagogue leader, and Lazarus, who had been deceased for four days, and while on the Cross, raised many others who appeared to many (Matt. 27:22, 23). Furthermore, after He was crucified, lifted high for our sake, He resurrected Himself on the third day, becoming the Prince of eternal life. For while others were raised, they returned to our mortal existence; however, once Christ rose, death no longer had authority over Him. Therefore, our one Lord became "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:20), specifically of the faithful who transition from this life with the hope of resurrection and eternal life. Thus, He became the Head of the dead and the Firstborn among them, assuring and promising us life that surpasses our current existence—mortal and corruptible, governed by carnal desires— for a life reserved in hope, divine, immortal, and everlasting. This is His precious gift, truly worthy of God. As He has not yet granted this life to those called to it, since our present life is interrupted by death, He resurrected the dead not for their own sake but for the benefit of others, to lead them to the faith that imparts eternal life. Consequently, He raised this young man not for his benefit, but out of compassion for his mother, as the Evangelist clearly recounts. After restoring him to life, He returned him to his mother. Notice that the Lord, moved by pity for the grieving widow, offered not only words of comfort but also acted to alleviate her grief. In this manner, we too should strive to assist those in dire need, not only with our words but by demonstrating our compassion through our actions. If we show kindness with all our strength, God will, in turn, show us His favor. Consider the remarkable advantage of this exchange: just as God surpasses man, so His power exceeds human strength, and the mercy stemming from this power exceeds the compassion we show to one another. If someone asked for copper coins and offered gold in return, who would not be pleased with such a deal? Now, the exchange is not merely copper for gold, which are relatively similar; rather, the human is given, perceiving the divine, and that humanity is restored to men, which is our inherent duty. Compassion and kindness towards one another stem naturally from our being. When we reflect on the abundant mercies God grants us—requiring from us only forgiveness towards our neighbors, kindness, and humanity, declaring: "Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you" (Lk. 6:37, 38)—should we not feel a compelling obligation to reciprocate with mercy and kindness as best we can? Given that we have been pardoned by God and received countless blessings from Him, should we not strive as much as possible? Would we not be willing to lay down our lives, if necessary, for others, following the Lord's example to attain eternal life from Him? It is indeed our duty, whether to our neighbors or to Him who sacrificed Himself for us—not solely as atonement but also as an exemplar and a profound instructor by deed, word, and thought, far surpassing all. For as the Apostle Peter states, Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example to follow in His footsteps (1 Pet. 2:21), and to be ready to sacrifice for the fulfillment of His commandments. This is the path to sharing in the eternal life and kingdom found in Him, living forever with Him, and being glorified alongside Him. Notice the Myrotochos, whose sacred martyrdom we commemorate today: the blood of his body, willingly shed for Christ, has created a ceaseless and rich source of miracles, sanctity for the soul, and fragrant peace flowing from his relics. Though the soul of this great martyr now enjoys eternal glory in heaven, his body has yet to receive such glorification; rather, our present experiences serve as a foreshadowing and symbol of the divine glory awaiting him. If this is indeed a preview, what can be said of the fullness that exists? It is truly beyond expression and comprehension. May we, through the prayers of Myrotochos the Martyr, as we perceive the divine peace emanating from him, become spectators and participants in this glory, by the grace and compassion of Jesus Christ, who is exalted in His martyrs, who is God over all, to whom be all glory for endless ages. Amen.

Elijah similarly restored the widow of Sarepta’s son, and as the Holy Scripture recounts, he gave him back to his mother (1 Kings 17:22). Likewise, upon reviving the son of the Shunammite, Elisha said, ‘Receive your son’ (2 Kings 4:36). What, then, did the onlookers say when they beheld the resurrected man, brought back to life by a single word, sitting and speaking?

In this act, the Lord exemplified the realization of His profound statement made in Jerusalem during the last Passover: “The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and be made alive.” This miracle was unmistakably seen as extraordinary and significant; the news of this event enhanced the perception of Jesus, already heightened by His previous wonders and teachings: “A great prophet has risen among us; God has visited His people.” The accounts of these Galilean events spread throughout Judea and its regions.

This astounding miracle inspired awe among those present, as they sensed the presence of God among them. Yet, it also filled them with joy, prompting them to glorify God, proclaiming, “A great prophet has risen among us, and God has visited His people.”

Was not this Teacher from Galilee a prophet as mighty as Elijah and Elisha? Might He even be greater than they? It was widely acknowledged that although these illustrious prophets had also resurrected the only sons of grieving mothers, they did so through fervent prayer and deep supplication, laying themselves upon the dead (1 Kings 17:21, 2 Kings 4:35). In contrast, Jesus accomplished this miracle effortlessly, unexpectedly, instantly, in His own name, and by His own authority, with just a single word. All who witnessed it were compelled to proclaim afterward that ‘a great prophet has arisen among us, and God has visited His people.’