Resurrection Power Is Still Alive: How to Release Jesus’ Miracle-Working Power
We are going to respectfully join the widow from Nain, and the tragic funeral processional of her only son.
But this grievous gathering will transform into a joyous event for all—the resurrection of her only son.
Let’s step into this scene in Luke 7:11-17:
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. 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. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 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.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
Encounter With the Resurrection and Life
This miracle takes place in the city of Nain, which in Greek means beauty,1 and in Hebrew pleasant place.2 Unfortunately, this initial encounter does not start out as a beautiful and pleasant one. But the grieving widow encounters Jesus, “the resurrection and life.”
Let’s read where this name of Jesus comes from in John 11:25 (NIV): “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’” This is the fifth of seven, “I am” statements from the Gospel of John that Jesus declares about Himself.
Why do I share this statement of Jesus here? Because I believe we need to move from being just avid readers of the Bible to living what it says. And amazing as this miracle is about how He raises this widow’s only son from the dead, as true disciples we are to raise the bar of our own faith and claim the power of promise for ourselves in our own time of need. The hidden message in this name, “Resurrection and Life,” is in plain view. He boldly declares in this name that “He gives us life, because He is Life, and death has no power over Him.” Can we give a big shout of praise for this?
Moving forward in time for just a moment, remember the words of the angels to the women who dare enter the empty tomb, “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again’” (Luke 24:6-7 NIV).
These people we read about in the Gospels are like young virgins in the faith, and daily life with Jesus is causing the power of faith to develop within their spiritual wombs. May we each become impregnated with this powerful faith of our Lord Jesus. And if we allow our faith to be consummated with His power—Holy Spirit’s power—all limits are off, and its “game on” in this life for us!
In addition to this widow’s son, Jesus the Master raises two other people from the dead: Jairus’ daughter, whom we will read about in Miracle 15, and His dear friend, Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha. (See Miracle 33.) These three reveal to us His supreme authority over death— and the hope of resurrection life that we experience through His own death and resurrection.
And again, in the Holy Bible, it is no coincidence that there are three recorded resurrections from the dead before Jesus Himself is raised from the dead. I see it as the oneness of the Trinity. As stated several times throughout this work, we need the Creator, the Creative Word made visible, and the empowerment of Holy Spirit to work a miracle. All three, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present and work together in harmony for our miracle.
Let’s return to the scene of this divine encounter that happens near the city gate, where the spirit of death is overtaken by the power of Jesus, the Resurrection and Life.
The Meaning and Care of A Widow
Hello, World!
In this recorded miracle of Jesus, the grieving mother is also a widow. In the Old Testament, a widow is a married woman whose husband has died, and she remains unmarried—and due to her loss, she is in a vulnerable position, lacking emotional support, and financial provision.3 And the Bible is clear about the support of a true widow from others: “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). This clearly demonstrates another character of our Savior. He’s loving and perfectly good, He’s omnibenevolent.
The Prophetic Nature of This Compassion
In addition to fulfilling the call of pure and undefiled religion, I believe the compassion Jesus feels for this woman is prophetic. And the deep compassion that Jesus experiences here perhaps is for His mother, Mary, too who will also lose her son, and perhaps will be widowed at the time of great suffering for our Lord or already is a widow. After all, where is Joseph during the crucifixion? He is not mentioned in the Scriptures during this time. His nature is caring and protective of Mary and Jesus. And considering all that they have been through, he would not abandon them in their time of need.
Even before Jesus breathed His last on that painful Cross, Jesus unselfishly goes beyond His own pain and grief and looks to beloved apostle John and commands him to take care of His mother, Mary. (See John 19:26-27.) So I do believe that Joseph has passed before this time. Regardless, I believe much of life’s experiences for our Lord call out to Him prophetically about what is to come. The type of compassion that Jesus demonstrates here in Greek is splagchnizomai, which highlights a Spirit-wrought emotion in which the whole inner being is stirred toward merciful action (Strong’s G4697).
Boldness, Faith, and Compassion
It takes boldness to tell a grieving mom, who just lost her son, not to weep. But Jesus knows the power of words, and weeping is a form of language, so He forms the right atmosphere for this miracle. And He moves quickly. Faith and compassion are necessary components for this boy’s resurrection. And as we read, Jesus has the compassion, love in action. He also has the faith; He now needs the mother to work with Him.
How Does This Miracle Come to Pass?
In Luke 7:14-15 we read how this miracle comes to pass.
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.” So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
While their painful hearts are wailing with cries of grief and despair, they hear Jesus command their deceased loved one to arise. They witness Messiah give an order to the dead and the dead responds immediately. Too bad Luke did not record the first words of this young man when he came back to life. I love to witness the first response of those who receive their miracle.
My first words when I raised my infant son, Marcos, from the dead were, “Thank You, Jesus.” Another man comes to my mind whom I ministered to during his last breaths. He leaped out of that deathbed and cried out, “I’m healed! And I am going to leave this place and tell everyone that I’m healed!” Another man received Jesus as his Savior. I think of how a mother and her two daughters burst into tears as her other daughter—while her body was shutting down in a coma—suddenly grabbed my arm and turned to me when I told her that she had to choose life and live.
And another response comes to my memory of a young girl on her deathbed, gasping for one last breath with her family at her bedside. As I laid hands on her body, I renounced the spirit of death, released the Spirit of Life, and as I said those words the power of Holy Spirit threw me against the wall and the girl jumped out of her bed. She and her entire Christian family shouted with a loud voice, “Hallelujah!” So, yes, this woman of God wishes Luke would have jotted down the response of this young man, his mom, and those who carried the coffin too.
Imagine the amazement and the fear of this young man’s mother, the pall-bearers, and the others in attendance, including the disciples. These are normal reactions to stunning miracles. But after the initial fear and shock, then comes great joy.
Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise! He has torn the veil and lifted from me the sad heaviness of mourning. He wrapped me in the glory-garments of gladness (Psalm 30:11 TPT).
The report of this miracle is not meant to cause pain, but it can, especially if the loss is fresh. But instead of inner pain, it is to share encouragement and instruction to the body of Christ what is possible, and what I believe we are to walk in more often than we do.
We never know what tomorrow holds, or when premature death will try to rear its ugly head against our loved ones, or when we will walk into another’s critical moment. This is why it’s so important to train ourselves in faith before an emergency strikes.
Prayer of Faith to Raise the Dead
In the name of Jesus, I renounce this spirit of death and the cause of it. I release the Spirit of Life to freely flow through this body. I command death out of every cell, tissue, organ, and system, I command (name of person) to choose life, wake up and begin to breathe on your own now in Jesus’ name, amen.
The Riches of Jesus on Display that Break the Code for This Miracle
Jesus cares for the widow.
He demonstrates great compassion for this grieving mother.
Jesus has authority over death.
Even the dead obey Jesus’ command.
Crack the Miracle Code
The resurrection power of Jesus overpowers death!
You will find where you have placed your faith—in the storm or in the healing power of your Lord.
Prayer of Faith
Dear Jesus, You have walked with me through this miracle of resurrection. And it stirs up faith within me. Holy Spirit, help me to move with this type of bold and courageous compassion for those who have suffered great loss. And may I not be afraid to raise the dead. In your name I pray, amen.
Faith Assignment
Strengthen your faith in the Holy Scriptures, especially in the arena of joy, not only to endure but to overcome death.
Questions to Consider: Life Overpowers Death
What does Nain mean in Greek?
In Hebrew Nain means?
Who does this grieving widow and mother encounter?
In the Old Testament what is a widow?
When we say that Jesus is omnibenevolent, what do we mean?
They type of compassion Jesus demonstrates for this widow is called what in Greek?
In Psalm 30:11, God turns our mourning into what?
