The Widow of Nain
"Young man, get up!"
This story is about a funeral and a mother's grief.
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- A verse number shows the Bible’s exact words.
- An underlined word shows what it means.
Story
What happened?
Tap a verse number, like , to read the Bible’s exact words.
The whole story, in shortWhat happens, start to finish. Open it if you want the ending first.
At the gate of the town of Nain, Jesus met a funeral: a widow's only son was being carried out to be buried. Jesus had compassion on her and said, "Do not weep." He touched the coffin and said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to speak, Jesus gave him back to his mother, and the crowd praised God, saying, "God has visited His people!"
Where it is in the Bible: Luke 7:11-17
Who’s who and what came beforePeople, places, and the story so far. Open it anytime.
Scene Card
Cast
- Jesus: The one the Gospels present as the promised Messiah and the Son of God.
- A widow: A mother whose husband has already died. Now her only son has died too.
- Her son: A young man being carried out to be buried.
- Two crowds: One following Jesus, one walking with the grieving mother.
Setting
- The gate of Nain, a small town in Galilee, south of Nazareth.
When
- About 2,000 years ago, during Jesus's work in Galilee.
Before the Story
Jesus had just healed a Roman officer's servant. He did it without even going to the house (7:1-10).
A widow was in a hard place. Without a husband or son, a woman often had no one to provide for her or protect her.
Here's what you know: In Nazareth, Jesus reminded people how the prophet Elijah helped a widow long ago (4:25-26). Elijah once raised a widow's son from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24).
Map of the Story
| Scene | Verses | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Two crowds meet | 7:11-12 | Jesus meets a funeral at the town gate |
| 2. "Do not weep" | 7:13 | Jesus has compassion on the mother |
| 3. "Get up!" | 7:14-15 | Jesus raises her son |
| 4. "God has visited His people!" | 7:16-17 | Everyone praises God |
Plain Retelling
Scene 1 of 4Two Crowds Meet
Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd went with him.
As he came near the town gate, a funeral was coming out.
A young man had died. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow.
A large crowd from the town was walking with her.
Scene 2 of 4"Do Not Weep"
When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her. Compassion means feeling someone's pain and wanting to help.
"Do not weep," he said (7:13).
No one asked Jesus for help. He saw her and came to her.
Scene 3 of 4"Get Up!"
Jesus went up and touched the open coffin. The men carrying it stopped.
"Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up!" (7:14).
The dead man sat up and began to talk!
"Then Jesus gave him back to his mother" (7:15).
Scene 4 of 4"God Has Visited His People!"
Everyone was filled with awe. They praised God.
"A great prophet has appeared among us!" they said. "God has visited His people!" (7:16).
The news about Jesus spread everywhere.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "The only son of his mother, and she was a widow" (7:12) | She had lost everyone, and was alone. |
| "He had compassion on her" (7:13) | Jesus felt her grief and acted. |
| "Do not weep" (7:13) | Jesus was about to end the reason for her tears. |
| "Touched the coffin" (7:14) | Jesus wasn't afraid to come close to death. |
| "Gave him back to his mother" (7:15) | Jesus cared about the mother as much as the son. |
| "God has visited His people!" (7:16) | God himself had come to help them, in Jesus. |
Back Then
Burials happened quickly. A person was usually buried the same day they died.
The coffin was open. It was a stretcher or open box, carried on people's shoulders.
Touching a dead body made a person "unclean" under God's law (Numbers 19:11). Jesus touched the coffin anyway. Instead of death making Jesus unclean, Jesus made the dead man alive.
Literal Reader Alert
Does Jesus not want us to cry? Jesus himself wept when his friend Lazarus died (John 11:35). Crying is okay. Jesus told this mother not to weep because he was about to give her son back.
Will Jesus bring back everyone who dies right away? Not right away. Jesus raised a few people during his life, as signs. He promises that everyone who trusts him will rise on the last day.
Did the young man die again later? Yes. Like Lazarus, he lived a normal life and later died. Jesus's own resurrection is different. He rose never to die again.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widow | Grieving | Her only son had died (7:12) |
| Jesus | Compassionate | He saw her and felt her pain (7:13) |
| The crowds | Amazed | A dead man sat up and talked (7:16) |
| The crowds | Thankful | They praised God (7:16) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you need Jesus to see today? Tap one.
I'm sad
Jesus saw the mother's tears before she said a word. He sees yours.
Someone died
Jesus is stronger than death. He promises to raise his people.
I feel alone
The widow was alone. Jesus came to her.
Thankful
Like the crowd, you can praise God. He has visited his people.
You Might Have Heard
"God is far away and doesn't notice when people are hurting."
What's true: Sometimes it can feel like God is far away.
What the story is mainly about: No one asked Jesus to help. He saw a grieving mother, felt compassion, and came to her. The crowd said, "God has visited His people!" (7:16).
Where Jesus is: At the gate of a small town, stopping a funeral, giving a son back to his mother.
Good News
Death had taken everything from this mother. Then Jesus came.
"Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up!" (7:14).
Jesus is stronger than death. He sees people who grieve. One day he will say "Get up!" to everyone who sleeps in him.
Jesus sees people who grieve, and he is stronger than death. God has visited his people.
Big Idea
Jesus saw a grieving widow, felt compassion, and raised her only son. He is stronger than death.
If this story brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther often spoke of death as a sleep for Christians. He taught that Christ will wake the dead as easily as we wake someone from sleep.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Luke 7:11-17 in early June (Lectionary 10).
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
God has visited His people!
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Lectionary 10 Year CGospel, Luke 7:11–17
For a newsletter or sermon notes
The Widow of Nain, explained in plain words. A widow is burying her only son. Jesus stops the funeral. About 6 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/the-widow-of-nain/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church