Saturday in the Sixth Week of Ordinary Time

Luke 7:11-17

God Has Visited His People

We turn to Luke for a short account of one of the more miraculous healings that Jesus performed.  Jesus raised three people from the dead: the son of this widow of Nain (no name is ever mentioned), Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus.  At least that is all that is recorded (John 21:25).  I wrote before that the purpose of Jesus’ miracles was to show who he was.  They were wonderful signs pointing to his divine origin which in turn confirmed his teaching (John 5:36; 10:25, 38).  They also, of course, show Jesus’ compassion on those who were suffering.

But there is more meaning here than even this.  The healings that Jesus performed reveal him as the divine Healer and great physician (Exodus 15:26).  Indeed, salvation itself is healing.  Salvation is the one indispensable and most important healing that we need.  Jesus’ healing miracles ultimately serve to show that he came to heal us, people who are needy, covered with sores, foul and festering, people who cannot help themselves.  We are sick, sin-sick, that is, who, when left to ourselves, are darkened in mind and deceitful at heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:18).  Saving faith is the beginning of our healing, a healing that continues all of our lives as the Lord sanctifies us by His Spirit as we walk in newness of life.

Speaking of newness of life, and pertaining to our passage above, Jesus is also our resurrection and life (John 11:25).  His miraculous raisings of the dead reveal to us that he shall one day raise those from the dead who have believed in him and received him as Savior (John 5:25; 6:39).  This miracle of raising the widow’s son foreshadows our raising.  Or better yet, our Lord’s resurrection foreshadows our resurrection.  You see, the widow’s son, Jairus’ daughter, and Lazarus, all died again after being raised.  But the resurrection of our Lord was one in which his body was glorified never to die again.  This is the picture of our resurrection on that great and wonderful day when we hear the voice of the bridegroom and rise again, our bodies not just restored but glorified and under the dominion of the spiritual world.  Indeed, as born again believers, we have already experienced a resurrection within and are new creations in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:1-4).  Now, we wait for him to return.

Upon seeing the miracle, the people of Nain proclaimed, “God has visited his people!”  He has.  And he shall visit us again one day, but next time on the clouds of glory.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Mark 14:62; Revelation 22:20).

Author: The Reformed Baptist

My name is Stephen Taylor, ordained Baptist minister of eighteen years pastoral experience with a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Better than that, I am married to a godly woman, Karla, who has been very patient with me since 1989. I have two daughters, both of whom I homeschooled for extended periods of time, who became godly young women, and who ran off and married godly young men, all of which is very proper. The oldest daughter has even seen fit to bless me with a grandson and a granddaughter, and my youngest daughter with a grandson, all three of whom are bundles of exceeding joy. As you can see, I am quite blessed. This website is dedicated to helping people grow in the wisdom and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ through the gift of writing that the Lord has given to me. It is specifically about helping His people grow in godliness, the theme you see repeated above. I write devotions with this aim and hope that they might be of some help to God’s people. Full disclosure: I am of a Reformed bent, meaning that my understanding of Scripture is primarily informed by the Reformers and their successors of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, as a student of church history and theology, I strive to remain true to that teaching handed down once for all unto the saints through every age of the Church. I like to think of myself as a “catholic” Christian, as the Reformers thought of themselves. At any rate, feel free to read, pray, and contact me if you wish, or correct me if need be. As you can see, I tend to follow the church year. Of course, I make no special claims about these devotions. I know very well that others have written better and plumbed the depths of God’s word with greater insight. But if my musings help someone draw closer to the Lord, well then, I have my reward. Blessings to you and may the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ speak to you that word which He knows you especially need to hear. Grace & peace, Stephen Taylor View all posts by The Reformed Baptist