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A Widow's Loss

A Widow's Loss

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 July 29, 2025Introduction• She had lost everything: her husband died and now she had to bury her only son. In her culture, a childless widow depended on charity just to survive. Her world had come to an end… but then, everything changed.• The story of the widow of Nain, found in the Gospel of Luke, is only a few verses long, but we learn a lot about finding hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. If you have ever felt like your world was coming to an end, this story is a message of hope.• I’m Brent, and this is episode 47 of The Bible Unplugged. We conclude our series on people in the Bible who experienced grief and how God provided for them. If you know someone who needs this message, please feel free to share these episodes with them.• Please take a minute to look at the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com under the Podcast tab.The Background• In the Gospel of Luke, chapters 4 through 9, we find Jesus traveling around Galilee, teaching, gathering his closest disciples, and working miracles that point to the power of God in the world.• In Chapter 7, Jesus went to the small town called Nain, near Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration of Jesus occurred. Nain is about 8 miles from Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. The town’s name means “beauty” or “pleasantness” likely due to the scenic view of the hills and mountains in the area. The meaning of the town’s name is a strong contrast to the painful scene Jesus encountered when he approached the town.Jesus’ Actions• A large group of followers and some of his disciples travelled with Jesus in this story. As they approached the town, they came upon a funeral procession. A widow, whose only son died, was accompanied by a large number of the people from Nain.• We know some important details about this woman so far: she lost her husband before this story, her only son died and was being taken to be buried; and, a lot of people went with her. In the Jewish culture, a widow had no rightful inheritance and depended on charity to survive. The good new is that the people of Nain went with her showing that she was well known and liked in the town.• When Jesus saw her, he had compassion for her and her situation. The Greek word for compassion means a gut-level, visceral reaction. Jesus felt her grief in his own body.• Jesus said to her, “Don’t cry.” This had to be a confusing statement to the widow and to all who heard Jesus say this. What Jesus said could have been considered cynical, even cruel, except for what happens next.• Jesus touched the coffin, and the pall bearers stopped in their tracks. In Luke 7:14 Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The young man sat up and began to speak.• Jesus then gave the young man back to his mother. This may indicate that the young man was a child, but there’s more to it than that. Jesus gave back her dignity and her source of support in the future. The widow’s world changed in that instant.• The people who witnessed the event were overcome with fear and glorified God. The news of this miracle spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region.What Do We Learn from This?• We don’t know what she said. She remains anonymous, but famous for what Jesus did for her. We learn that we don’t have to be noticed or made famous in order to useful in God’s kingdom.• In the widow’s silence we learn that grief can silence us. Fatigue, disappointment, and pain can rob us of our ability to pray. The good news is Jesus didn’t wait for perfect prayers or perfect attitudes. He knew the needs, felt the pain, and acted to comfort those who grieved in this story.• This story echoes what we find in 1 Kings chapter 17 when Elijah raised the dead son of a widow and gave the him back to his mother. In that story, the widow was destitute and felt hopeless. The widow of Nain likely felt the same way.What Do We Do with This?• The silence you experience in times of distress, pain, and grief don’t disqualify you. God’s compassion reaches us even before we know what to say. If you, or someone you know, is going through a painful time, look expectantly for God to send a message of grace in the middle of the crisis.• When we grieve, we may feel just like the widow of Nain:• We follow behind a loss that we didn’t expect• We may feel that our future is being carried away and we are powerless to change the situation• We may be surrounded by people, but still feel alone.• When we do, know that God sees you and knows what you’ve lost. Even if you don’t have the words left to voice your pain, God has compassion waiting for you.• Take some time this week to simply be present with God. Words don’t matter. You don’t have to explain yourself. Just BE with God. Especially in times of pain and grief Jesus doesn’t just meet us in our grief, he often interrupts it.A Personal Note• I want to take a minute to share with you a grief experience I and my ...
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