<< Luke VII: The Widow's Son >>

 IF you look at the map of Palestine you see one break in the even shore of the country, where Mount Carmel projects into the sea. Just above Mount Carmel is the   beautiful green plain of Esdraelon which reaches far into the country. On its northern side are the hills of Galilee; on its eastern border are three mountains, Tabor, Little Hermon, and Gilboa. Between these mountains branches of the plain reach eastward to the Jordan. The people of Nazareth looked down upon this plain from the hill above their town. They crossed it in journeying from Nazareth towards Jerusalem. It is a rich meadow, and in the old time beautiful farms were there and busy towns.

The Lord with many of His disciples was passing through the part of the plain which lies between Little Hermon and Mount Tabor. They came to Nain, a small town at the foot of   Little Hermon,   looking   northward   towards   Ihe   higher mountain.    No doubt there was a wall aboul the town and an arched gate-way. As they came near to the city a sad procession was passing out through the gate. A young man had died, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and they were going to the tomb in the caves of the hill-side near by. Much people of the city showed their pity for the poor widow by turning to go with her to the grave. No doubt the usual loud cries of grief were heard. They did   not know about the other world into which we awaken when we die, and where we   live   forever. It seemed to them that the young man's life was ended. How sad they must have been! The Lord pitied them; but He knows that  when one dies he only falls   asleep, and that he soon awakens into the other world where his home is ready,   and  where   kind angels are waiting to welcome him.  The Lord showed  the people he has power  to   raise   us   from   the sleep of death, by awakening the widow's son to life in this world.    See the Lord taking the young man by the hand; see the happy mother and the glad faces of all his friends as the young man sat up and began to speak. It is a picture of what the Lord does for every one of us. When we die the Lord raises us up, and our friends come about us, glad to  welcome  us. We should remember what the Lord  did at the gate of Nain, when we hear people say that any one has died.

And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.---Luke VII. 11-17.

Author: William L. Worcester 1904

Spiritual Correspondences

Young man lying dead >> Soul devoid of spiritual intelligence and heavenly life

Young man's mother [a widow] >> Feeble desire for what is good and heavenly

Widow >> Goodness without real Truth to guide and support it

Arise >> Spiritual effort to arise from false thoughts and ways and dwell in a higher state of consciousness

He that was dead sat up, and began to speak >> Soul vivified by spiritual thought

Pictures: James Tissot ----Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum