OUT of the city of Nain a dead young man was carried, the only son of his widowed mother. In this touching scene of human grief which the Holy Ghost has brought before us, the most cherished ties are broken; helplessness and sorrow are mingled together. The widow’s tears fail to deliver her only child from death; the respect of all the city avails not to heal her wounded spirit; and thus the mournful company follows the bier to the ledge hewn in the rocky hillside.
While that sorrowing band is wending its way to the grave, the Son of God draws near. A few disciples, and some wondering strangers attend Him. The weeping widow is following her only son to the grave. “When the Lord saw her,” who had twice suffered the pangs of separation, “He had compassion on her.”
He came from heaven to bless us. He grieved over our death. In His words, “Weep not,” there was divine consolation; and if Jesus says, “Weep not,” our tears must cease.
But the widow needed more than divine compassion; if her cup should run over, she needed the living in her bosom; and almighty power was exercised, as well as almighty compassion, to (give the poor widow joy; death was to become life; it was not to go further; the lifeless body was not permitted to reach the grave.
The Lord “came and touched the bier: and they that bare stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise”; and, quickened by His almighty voice, “he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.”
He came to Nain to give life to the widow’s son; He came to this earth that we, dead in sins, might have everlasting life. “He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,” are His words. Believe, then, in the Lord Jesus, and receive God’s gift.
When the dead man heard the voice of the Lord, he sat up in the vigor of life. Thus when the sinner, dead in sins, hears the voice of the Son of God, he receives life. Are you living in the energy of divine life? The young man was in himself a living witness to the work of Jesus; and so should we be who have heard His voice.
Thus He speaks: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
Nain means beauty, pleasantness. This world was once beautiful; no sorrow, no sigh, no tear clouded it; its inhabitants dreaded no departure; for then there was no gateway out of it. But sin entered the world and all became changed. Death entered. Through this gateway men are now carried:” It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).)
While you are still in the world, still where you may find Mercy, think of your state. Are you prepared to die? Are you ready to be carried out, to leave the world, remembering, “after death the judgment”?
Utterly helpless and hopeless in himself, man could not save himself from death; for he could not live without sin. But God saw his bitterness.
The Father and the Son agreed in holy counsel for man’s salvation, and the Son said, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.” Gracious purpose! Mighty plan! All conceived, all accomplished by God! Man the object of it; but man no worker in it; all of God, and all love to man. The will of God is our salvation; the means whereby we are saved is the blood of God’s Lamb.
Through that blood, by faith, you may have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Embrace this offer now.
Life through the death of Jesus,
Gift of eternal love;
Sweetly the gospel message
Sounds from the throne above.
Life for the guilty sinner;
Freedom for slaves of sin;
God’s blessed “whatsoever”
Takes every lost one in.
Washed in the blood of Jesus;
Clean in God’s holy sight;
Jesus can make the vilest
Whiter than snow tonight.
Only the work of Jesus;
Nothing that man can do;
God brings His great salvation
Just where you are to you.
Peace through the cross of Jesus,
Doubtings and fears are gone;
Over the Red Sea’s waters
Floats the triumphant song.
Death through His death is vanquished;
All the great work is done:
Peace through the cross of Jesus,
Peace through the victory won.