Luke 7:1-17
I don’t know what to make of the following verses: Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited His people!” And this report about Him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. (Luke 7:16-17) It would be less confusing if Luke had not included the first four words, Fear seized them all… How does this miracle generate fear? Or is this a fear that reflects an awesome authority figure, someone who should be honored and obeyed. The remainder of these two verses lends to that understanding. The second part of these two verses has Jesus’ fame spreading …through the whole of Judea… Judea is some 80-100 miles south of Nain, so report of this miracle has indeed spread far and wide.
Nain itself is about ten miles south of Nazareth, effectively one of the southernmost villages in Galilee. Capernaum, by contrast is some 20-30 miles northeast of Nain, one of the northernmost cities in Galilee. So I find it surprising that Luke has these two miracles side-by-side in these 17 verses. Some manuscripts even refer to “the next day” at the beginning of this “Nain” section. I could begin to suspect Luke’s chronology, except that he, himself has undertaken to write “an orderly account” (Luke 1:3) and that he had clearly done his research (Luke 1:1-4).
See also: March 27 / Luke 7:1-17
Good points, Fred. I was struck by these two stories of healing from death or death’s door. One for a humble but powerful gentile (probably a seeker), one for a now-destitute widow. Neither one is named. One sought out Jesus, one He just saw as He passed by. Jesus heals us where we are, seeking and by “luck” (aka God’s perfect timing). How can we not believe and obey this Lord of lordship!
Not to detract from today’s reading, but as tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day, Paul put it best:
Share with those you love. Peace.