Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭23‬
[Jesus speaking]
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

I find it interesting that this passage shows the compassion of Jesus as a man and the power of Jesus as God. Jesus maintained a unity with God while on earth that allowed him to petition God in prayer for his requests. He was also God the Son, so he had the power of God. There is a bit of a mystery here. But in this case, he had compassion on this widow and healed her dead son.

I take great and lasting comfort from this passage, because it was not only a sign of Jesus’ authority over death, and precursor to God raising him from the dead, but it was evidence of his oneness with God and his great heart of compassion that he displayed.
Today, we must emphatically remember that we serve a Risen Savior who advocates on our behalf. He is our ultimate advocate to God. And he acts in power and compassion. So refreshing!

Thank you, Lord, for your great love and compassion for this widow. You have the same love and compassion for all your followers. I claim it and live in it today!