Widow’s Dead Son
Jesus displays that His flesh is life-giving, with His vital force passing through the wood into the corpse.
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Widow’s Dead Son
The widow in St Luke’s Gospel had no hope of bearing another son.
Her only born child, passing from childhood to manhood, is dead.
In a village of Nain in Judaea, the weeping widow trails the bier that carries the corpse of her dead son.
The recital is a real lamentation.
The tragedy of her suffering is that the widow, now past child-bearing—bereft of any hope of remarriage—has none to sustain her, in place of him who is now gone.
Him alone she knew in birth’s travail, him alone she nursed at her breast.
He alone was the cause of her brightness, at table, at play, in learning, at pilgrimage, at gatherings of youth.
All that is sweet and precious in a mother’s eyes… is now dead.
Dead at marriage’s ripe age, he, the stock of her race, the shoot of its succession, the staff of her old age, lies prone on a funeral bier.
The detail of her son’s time of life also brings forth a lament.
“A young man”—as the Gospel states—manifests the flower of his manhood, not yet with a full flowing, Hebraic thick beard, but still flush with the beauty of ruddy cheeks.
How bitterly does the widow prolong her lament!
Embracing in her heart the corpse as it lay before her, lengthening out her mourning for him so as not to hasten the burial, but to have her full fill of sorrow!
Jesus straightaway draws near.
He comes on His own, not invited as in other instances, but unsolicited, filled with compassion.
He urges the widow to…“Weep not”… showing forth large-heartedness for her plight.
Jesus touches the bier and says…”Young man, I say unto thee, arise.”
A long time dead, (he was all but wrapped in funeral garb), he opens his eyes, sits up, and speaks… “Mother.”
He, Jesus the Messiah, Who is the Resurrection and the Life, meets death in its face.
Dust does not return to dust.
But He Who created all things, now renews the face of the earth—collectively, man, “Adam”—meaning “earth” in Hebrew.
The Word of God Himself, our Creator, Who commanded the sun to shine, now commands the widow’s dead son to “arise!”
“Thy dead shall rise,” says the prophet Isaiah, “for the dew from Thee, O Lord, is healing.”
By “dew…” the prophet means the life-giving operation of Messiah, Who is Jesus.
Why was not the widow’s dead son healed by Jesus’ command alone?
For along with His command, Jesus also touches with his hand, the bier.
Jesus displays that His flesh is life-giving, with His vital force passing through the wood into the corpse.
The Word of God incarnate exhibits that his body shares the Divine prerogative of communicating life.
This life-giving operation of Jesus is experienced when we the faithful receive Holy Communion.
When iron unites with fire it burns upon touch.
Thus so, the Lord’s Supper is infused with heavenly fire.
At every Divine Liturgy we sing, “Receive the Body of Christ, drink the fountain of immortality.”
Growing up in the synagogue, I would hear the prophet Isaiah being read from the bimah:
“Come, all you who are thirsty, buy wine without cost. Why spend money on that which is not bread, on that which does not satisfy?”
Matzah balls and Manischewitz didn’t quite do it for me.
But Holy Communion nourishes the body and gives life to the soul!
By His stripes I was healed.
By His blood I was cleansed.
Praise God!
Brother Nat .. thanks for your Bible commentary as it is crisp, clear and pithy for a much better learning experience. I have learned so much from you over the years and I pray that you can continue your mission. Truth, does not make friends easily.
Thank you Bro Nathaniel..
We miss you on Rense, where might one find more of you?
Amen !!. +BN, you are a wise Man .
Kind Regards. +SH
Thank you Brother Nathaniel!!!