Luke 7:11 Commentary and Bible Study

(Synoptics: Luke 7:11-17)There are three people that Christ is recorded as raising from the dead: Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, and this widow’s son. All of them teach his personal power over death. He is the only one we can go to for help as we face death, because death is problem beyond the help of family, doctors, priests, politicians, or any other human power. All other are out of their depth, but Christ is never out of his depth. But this miracle also has unique features of its own. It was a particularly tragic situation because it left the widow in a pitiful state. The result of this miracle was that his fame spread greatly in the area.The journey from Capernaum to Nain was about 25 miles. This probably took place the day after the healing of centurion’s son. Maybe they travelled the whole way that day; maybe they set out the previous day. Our understanding is that, at the time of Christ, only one road led to Nain. It was a long trek of about 10 or 11 hours, and there was a considerable number travelling with him, not only disciples but ‘much people’. Where were they from? Many were already far away from home, because they had travelled across the country to hear him (Luke 6:17-18). Luke is careful to divide up the group so that we know that they were not all disciples, but many curious followers as well. They would not leave him now, even though did not know where he was going. It does not seem that he told anybody where he was going; the record doesn't say that he did, and if he had told them, what would they have thought? He was going to a place which most of them had never heard of. He was going to a place which isn't on the very oldest maps. But Christ knew where he was going. The Son of God knows all things past, present and future. He was engaged in ceaseless activity, driven by a sense of urgency to complete the work given to him. He was seeking one of his lost sheep; he alone was fully aware of where that journey would lead, but his progress was not hurried but calm, allowing events to unfold.The disciples had a sense of anticipation. They did not know exactly what would happen, but they had learnt that he never went anywhere by accident. He always had a purpose, and what appeared to be accidental was all part of his plan. Here they were travelling to an obscure place. Why should he lead this large crowd to such a place? Surely, many thought, we are off the beaten track. Nain is called a city, but it was not a large place; it was more what we would call a small town.