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As the Lord enters the city of Nain, He encounters a funeral procession approaching the city gate.
In one sense the gate that the procession approaches is the Lord Himself.
He is the gate to life (Jn 10: 9), the gate of the heavenly city, the narrow gate (Mt 7: 14; Lk 13: 24).
In one sense the gate that the procession approaches is the Lord Himself.
He is the gate to life (Jn 10: 9), the gate of the heavenly city, the narrow gate (Mt 7: 14; Lk 13: 24).
In some way every death passes by the Lord.
At Nain, a young man, the only son of his widowed mother, is being carried forth from the city.
The scene is strikingly similar to Good Friday.
At Nain, a young man, the only son of his widowed mother, is being carried forth from the city.
The scene is strikingly similar to Good Friday.
Jesus “came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still” (Lk 7:14).
Saint Cyril of Alexandria tells us that Jesus touched the bier so that we would be assured that His sacred flesh, His sacred humanity, is effective for our salvation.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria tells us that Jesus touched the bier so that we would be assured that His sacred flesh, His sacred humanity, is effective for our salvation.
Notice also that the bearers stop when he, the Son of the living God, touches the funeral bier. The Lord stops death in its tracks.
In this passage the word used for “stood still,” histēmi, can refer to standing in the presence of a judge.
Jesus is about to judge death.
In this passage the word used for “stood still,” histēmi, can refer to standing in the presence of a judge.
Jesus is about to judge death.
The Greek word for “touch” used in the passage is haptomai. The root word for this expression means to set on fire or to set ablaze.
The psalmist says “Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire” (Ps 50: 3).
His Passion consumes death.
The psalmist says “Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire” (Ps 50: 3).
His Passion consumes death.
“Young man, I say to you, rise!” (Lk 7: 14).
A connection to Calvary: Once the young man returns to life, Jesus gives him back to his mother. Jesus will make a similar act of entrustment as he gives the beloved disciple to his own mother at the foot of the cross (Jn 19: 27).
A connection to Calvary: Once the young man returns to life, Jesus gives him back to his mother. Jesus will make a similar act of entrustment as he gives the beloved disciple to his own mother at the foot of the cross (Jn 19: 27).
