Weep Not

The Story

Jesus and a large crowd were approaching the town of Nain. As they neared the town gate, another crowd was coming out: a funeral procession.

A young man had died. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. In that time, a widow with no son had no one to provide for her or protect her. She had lost her child and her future in the same day.

The Bible says that when the Lord saw her, “he had compassion on her.” Nobody asked Him for help. Nobody even knew Him there. He simply saw her grief, and His heart went out to her.

He said to her, “Weep not.”

Then He walked up and touched the open coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Touching it would have made Him ceremonially unclean, but Jesus didn’t care. He said, “Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.”

The young man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Fear and wonder swept through both crowds. “A great prophet is risen up among us,” they said, “and, God hath visited his people.”

Reflection