Luke 7:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

On this occasion, both the message delivered to you and the exploration of sacred teachings are certain to enrich your understanding. Therefore, approach with the intention to join the holy angels in glorifying the universal Savior, for He receives adoration in both heaven and earth, and before Him, every knee must bend, as it is stated. Let it be proclaimed to humanity everywhere that the Lord is God. Though He took on our human form, He has nonetheless shown us manifestations of divine power and greatness through various signs: healing the sick, casting out unclean spirits, restoring sight to the blind, and ultimately conquering death itself; the very death that mercilessly ruled from Adam until Moses, as expressed by the Apostle Paul.

Upon receiving the Word of God, the steadfast bearers of the deceased, who burden the human form with the deadly decay of earthly existence, ceased their actions. This illustrates our condition as we lie breathless on a gurney, a vehicle for our final journey, while around us the flames of excessive greed blaze, the chilling waters flow, or the idle abilities of the body diminish the vigor of the soul, leading our spirit, void of pure light, to feed the mind with corruption. Such are the carriers of our deathbed.

The prophet Elijah once brought back to life the son of the widow from Sarepta, calling out in sorrow to God and earnestly pleading with Him (3 Kings 17:20-21). Similarly, the prophet Elisha revived the son of a Shunammite woman, but he had to physically embrace him and exert his effort (4 Kings 4:34-35). In contrast, this individual merely touched and issued a command, and the young man instantly returned to life. For this reason, they regarded Him as a significant prophet, yet later, in their ingratitude, they put Him to death.

When the crowd witnessed the demonstrations of God's supreme power, they were filled with awe at the remarkable authority of Jesus Christ. They glorified God, exclaiming, "A great prophet has arisen among us; God has visited and redeemed His people, the nation of Israel!" Their exclamations mirrored the prophecies of Moses, who foretold the divine visitation through the coming of the Son of God. He had declared to the Israelites in God’s name, "I will raise up for them a prophet from among their brothers, like you; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him" (Deuteronomy 18:18). This suggests they recognized that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah that Moses and other prophets had predicted, the Savior and Redeemer for their generation and for all humanity.

Shortly thereafter, on His passage through Galilee, a remarkable and miraculous event unfolded before the Apostles, suddenly unveiling the Divine glory of the Savior. In the midst of the crowd, He restored to life the young son of a widow, who was already being taken for burial. While Elisha also had the power to raise the dead, he employed several methods to achieve this miracle. In contrast, with just a word and a touch on the young man's coffin, Jesus brought him back from death.

The following day, Jesus entered the town of Nain, accompanied by His disciples and a large crowd. As He drew near the city gates, He encountered a sorrowful funeral procession. The grief felt by the mourners was intensified by the fact that the deceased was the only son of a bereaved mother. When the Lord saw her, He was moved with compassion and said, "Do not weep." Then He approached the bier and touched it, instructing those who were carrying it to halt. As the procession came to a standstill, the Lord proclaimed, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" Instantly, the dead man stood up and began speaking, demonstrating unmistakably that he had indeed come back to life. The Lord presented him to his mother.

This voice broke through into the enigmatic and concealed domain of death, trembling its very foundations. The deceased arose and began to speak, and the Savior returned the young man to his mother. Witnessing this, everyone was filled with awe. On the opposite hillside from Nain lay the city of Shunem, where the prophet Elisha had once resurrected the son of a widow who had shown him kindness. Below the hill, the fertile plains of Jezreel were the backdrop for the significant deeds of the eminent prophet Elijah, who also affirmed his prophetic mission by miraculously restoring the life of the widow of Zarephath's son. Observing this wonder, the onlookers couldn't help but recall these mighty servants of the true God.

Fear arose from the astonishing grandeur of the miracle, reflecting a powerful manifestation of God's supreme authority. The inhabitants of Nain recognized Jesus not yet as their Messiah but merely as a significant prophet. Prophets not only predicted future events but also carried out miraculous acts; upon witnessing a miracle, the people of Nain perceived the Lord as a prophet, a remarkable envoy of God. In their understanding, God had indeed come to them.

The Lord observed the deep sorrow of the grieving mother and, moved by compassion, acted, as He did in rare instances, exercising mercy solely out of His own will without any pleas from the unfortunate woman or her friends. He spoke to her, saying, "Weep not," not to dismiss her maternal anguish, but to offer her a glimpse of the comfort that was to come. What a moment of significance! All eyes were drawn to Him. Jesus Christ approached and touched the bier, and when those carrying it paused, He, in His capacity as the Lord of life and death, proclaimed with authority: "I say to you, young man, arise." The creative command was immediately fulfilled: the deceased person stood up, began to speak, and bore witness to the miracle of divine love and compassion.