Quickening the Dying and the Dead

 Luke 7:1-17 

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people." 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

Jesus quickened the dying and the dead with life now and beyond death.  First He encountered the request from a Roman centurion through the Jewish elders at his request to beg Jesus to heal his dear departing servant who was sick and near death.  The elders pleaded with the Lord to hear the man’s petition because he had been faithful to build and support the local synagogue there in Capernaum and loved the people of Israel of God.  Jesus followed them towards the house but was interrupted by friends of the soldier who were messengers humbly asking Jesus to just give the word that the servant would be made well and live.  The soldier had faith upon hearing all that the Lord had done with others to heal with a word and also felt unworthy of a personal visit, likely because he was an outsider and occupier from Rome in His land.  As a lifelong soldier, the centurion knew how military authority allowed him to give a word and he had faith it would be carried out in obedience because of the power invested in that authority.  This faith in Jesus trusted His word as the ultimate authority (Luke 4:32, 36) to speak and the natural realm would obey Him to heal the man’s servant in much the same way.  The Lord Christ recognized and honored this faith that others of the people of Israel to whom He was sent did not seem to possess or exercise.  When the messengers returned they witnessed the answer to the petition of faith.  The sick servant who was headed towards death was alive and well.  That must have been a faith building moment for all involved who saw and heard these things recorded for us to marvel at as well in this gospel of Luke!  The next day Jesus went into the town of Nain into a huge crowd at a funeral procession.  There a widow’s only son who met death was passing on the way to burial when the Lord demonstrated compassion on the grieving widow.  He told her to stop crying and laid His hand on the coffin.  All the pallbearers stopped in their tracks.  Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” and the young man sat up alive and talking.  He was quickened from death to life as a message and sign of eternal life (John 5:24) to come after the resurrection for all who received Him (John 1:12) and believed His work (John 6:29) to bring life from death to the dying now and those already in death.  That is the true hope of the gospel heard and believed by trusting Jesus upon hearing His word and trusting His authority and power to do these things.  May all who read these historical accounts of the words and works of the Lord Jesus Christ likewise trust and obey His good news of hope in the face of the inevitable and pass from death to life as well.