Today's passage shows the fact that humans are powerless in the face of death. The widow is plunged into despair after losing her husband and son. We must face the unavoidable reality of death and realize our limitations before it.
11. Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12. Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of h…
In today's sermon, we emphasize the fact that humans are powerless in the face of death through the event where Jesus raises the widow's son in the city of Nain. Death is the final enemy that humans cannot overcome, but Jesus comes to that procession of death, has compassion for the grieving widow, and brings her son back to life. This event conveys an important message about who Jesus is, reminding us that we should believe in and rely on Him. Ultimately, even death submits to Jesus, and through Him, we can attain eternal life.
- Luke 7:11-17 11. Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12. Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14. He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15. He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16. Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17. This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region.
- Luke 7:11 11. Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
- Luke 7 1. After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2. A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3. When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4. When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5. for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6. Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7. Therefore I didn’t 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 under myself soldiers. I tell this 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 and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10. Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well. 11. Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12. Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14. He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15. He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. 16. Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17. This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region. 18. The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19. John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20. When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’” 21. In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22. Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.” 24. When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25. But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 27. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28. “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29. When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves. 31. “To what then will I liken the people of this generation? What are they like? 32. They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call one to another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33. For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35. Wisdom is justified by all her children.” 36. One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat at the table. 37. Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38. Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.” 40. Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” He said, “Teacher, say on.” 41. “A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42. When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?” 43. Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.” He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44. Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45. You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48. He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49. Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50. He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
- Luke 6 1. Now on the second Sabbath after the first, he was going through the grain fields. His disciples plucked the heads of grain, and ate, rubbing them in their hands. 2. But some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?” 3. Jesus, answering them, said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him; 4. how he entered into God’s house, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?” 5. He said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6. It also happened on another Sabbath that he entered into the synagogue and taught. There was a man there, and his right hand was withered. 7. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him. 8. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Rise up, and stand in the middle.” He arose and stood. 9. Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” 10. He looked around at them all, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other. 11. But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus. 12. In these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God. 13. When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles: 14. Simon, whom he also named Peter; Andrew, his brother; James; John; Philip; Bartholomew; 15. Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was called the Zealot; 16. Judas the son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also became a traitor. 17. He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; 18. as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed. 19. All the multitude sought to touch him, for power came out of him and healed them all. 20. He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. 21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22. Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. 23. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets. 24. “But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation. 25. Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26. Woe,whenmen speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. 27. “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28. bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30. Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again. 31. “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them. 32. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back as much. 35. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil. 36. “Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful. 37. Don’t judge, and you won’t be judged. Don’t condemn, and you won’t be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free. 38. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be given to you. For with the same measure you measure it will be measured back to you.” 39. He spoke a parable to them. “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40. A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41. Why do you see the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 42. Or how can you tell your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck of chaff that is in your eye,’ when you yourself don’t see the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck of chaff that is in your brother’s eye. 43. For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit; nor again a rotten tree that produces good fruit. 44. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For people don’t gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is evil, for out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaks. 46. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say? 47. Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like. 48. He is like a man building a house, who dug and went deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. When a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it was founded on the rock. 49. But he who hears, and doesn’t do, is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
- Luke 7:1 1. After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
- Ephesians 2 1. You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2. in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; 3. among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5. even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6. and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7. that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus; 8. for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9. not of works, that no one would boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. 11. Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision”, (in the flesh, made by hands); 12. that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, 15. having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; 16. and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. 17. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, 20. being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21. in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22. in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
- 1 Kings 17 1. Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the foreigners of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 2. Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, 3. “Go away from here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 4. It shall be, that you shall drink of the brook. I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5. So he went and did according to Yahweh’s word; for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan. 6. The ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7. After a while, the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. 8. Yahweh’s word came to him, saying, 9. “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you.” 10. So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, “Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11. As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, “Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12. She said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar. Behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 13. Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it out to me, and afterward make some for you and for your son. 14. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth.’” 15. She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 16. The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke by Elijah. 17. After these things, the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18. She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!” 19. He said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the room where he stayed, and laid him on his own bed. 20. He cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, have you also brought evil on the widow with whom I stay, by killing her son?” 21. He stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Yahweh, and said, “Yahweh my God, please let this child’s soul come into him again.” 22. Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23. Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the room into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Elijah said, “Behold, your son lives.” 24. The woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that Yahweh’s word in your mouth is truth.”
- 2 Kings 4 1. Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead. You know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take for himself my two children to be slaves.” 2. Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me: what do you have in the house?” She said, “Your handmaid has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil.” 3. Then he said, “Go, borrow containers from of all your neighbors, even empty containers. Don’t borrow just a few. 4. You shall go in, and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour out into all those containers; and you shall set aside that which is full.” 5. So she went from him, and shut the door on her and on her sons; they brought the containers to her, and she poured out. 6. When the containers were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” He said to her, “There isn’t another container.” The oil stopped flowing. 7. Then she came and told the man of God. He said, “Go, sell the oil, and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” 8. It fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where there was a prominent woman; and she persuaded him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. 9. She said to her husband, “See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passes by us continually. 10. Please let us make a little room on the wall. Let us set for him there a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp stand. It shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there.” 11. One day he came there, and he turned into the room and lay there. 12. He said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13. He said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Behold, you have cared for us with all this care. What is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14. He said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Most certainly she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15. He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the door. 16. He said, “At this season, when the time comes around, you will embrace a son.” She said, “No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.” 17. The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season, when the time came around, as Elisha had said to her. 18. When the child was grown, one day he went out to his father to the reapers. 19. He said to his father, “My head! My head!” He said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20. When he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. 21. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door on him, and went out. 22. She called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the servants, and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.” 23. He said, “Why would you want go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “It’s alright.” 24. Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward! Don’t slow down for me, unless I ask you to.” 25. So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. 26. Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’” She answered, “It is well.” 27. When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 28. Then she said, “Did I desire a son of my lord? Didn’t I say, Do not deceive me?” 29. Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30. The mother of the child said, “As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” He arose, and followed her. 31. Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Therefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” 32. When Elisha had come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid on his bed. 33. He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh. 34. He went up, and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, and his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child grew warm. 35. Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth; and went up, and stretched himself on him. Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36. He called Gehazi, and said, “Call this Shunammite!” So he called her. When she had come in to him, he said, “Take up your son.” 37. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out. 38. Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was a famine in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Set on the great pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39. One went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered of it wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of stew; for they didn’t recognize them. 40. So they poured out for the men to eat. As they were eating some of the stew, they cried out, and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” They could not eat of it. 41. But he said, “Then bring meal.” He cast it into the pot; and he said, “Pour out for the people, that they may eat.” There was no harm in the pot. 42. A man from Baal Shalishah came, and brought the man of God bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. He said, “Give to the people, that they may eat.” 43. His servant said, “What, should I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give the people, that they may eat; for thus says Yahweh, ‘They will eat, and will have some left over.’” 44. So he set it before them, and they ate, and left some of it, according to Yahweh’s word.
Even in the face of death, Jesus gives life
- Powerless humans before death
- The compassion of Jesus
Six days of devotions drawn from this Sunday's sermon — one for each day, Monday through Saturday.
Five quick questions from this Sunday's message. Tap an answer to see if you're right.
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What event is the main text of today's sermon about?
Today's text deals with the event where Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain.
Preacher: Pastor Han Eun-jin
Date: 2026-08-09
The scripture reading is from Luke 7:11-17. I will read it aloud.
“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’ Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’ This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” Amen.
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