Scripture Reading(s)
Luke 7:11-17
7:11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.
7:12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.
7:13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
7:14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!”
7:15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
7:16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!”
7:17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Reflections
“Young man, I say to you, rise!”
I always find it interesting that Jesus never asked anyone when He healed them, He commanded them. But this should actually be expected, not surprising. After all, even the centurion in Luke 7 recognized that all things obey Jesus.
I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
Jesus never politely asked a demon to come out or for someone to be healed, He commanded it to be so. This is because He was confident that what He told them to do would be done. Likewise, we walk in Jesus’ name. The darkness has no power or authority over us. We too should walk in confidence knowing that we are heirs with Christ and children of the Most High.
That is not to say that we can just go around healing people, though some people are known for such things (Smith Wigglesworth). It is still up to the Holy Spirit to work out and lead us. But we can be sure that the same Spirit that was in Jesus is also in us and that nothing can come up against the Spirit and win.