Luke 7 presents us with a very interesting story: the death, resurrection, and ministry of a "son". We cannot help but think that such Biblical stories as these serve a far greater purpose than mere minor "details" of the Scriptural account. In this current case, I believe many gems of truth can be hewn from the Word that was penned by the very breath of God. I believe that it speaks, on a deeper and prophetic level, of the manifestation of the sons of God! The natural story directs us to a special truth (1 Cor 15:46).. Oh that God would give us eyes to see, and ears to hear (Heb 5:11)! Let's observe..
"And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about" (Lk 7:11-17).
“And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak... And He delivered him to his mother.” How wonderfully magnificent is this doctrine of the manifestation of the sons of God! For did not Jesus Himself declare, “ye are gods... and children of the Most High” (Jn 10:34; Ps 82:6)? Concerning this expectant fullness of God’s people Paul writes, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom 8:18-19). Isn’t there an expected end to our salvation (Jer 29:11)? And again the Bible says, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” (Eph 4:13). And is not this said end to come to fruition in a remnant of believers first? “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (Jas 1:18). Surely there will be a firstfruits company of sons – those who have matured first, and consequently must be first plucked and harvested, lest they spoil (Rev 14:1-5 with 14:14-16). Certainly the “greater love” of the few will come to such an expected end before the “lesser love” of the many (Jn 15:13). It is these disciples who shall “beg (for) the body” of Christ; and it shall be “delivered” (literally “restored”) to God through them (Matt 27:57-60)! All of creation is groaning! The glory of God will be fully risen upon God's holy remnant, and consequently their motives will be pure and wholly according to His heart and desire (Isa 60:1-2). They will be, for all intents and purposes, Jesus manifest in the earth. Of course they will not literally become King Jesus, but they will be in His glorious image (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 8:29; Col 3:10; Gal 4:19; etc). They will carry His glory to a people, a people for whom Jesus is weeping over (Matt 9:36; 23:37; Lk 7:13).
Regarding the current verses from Luke's Gospel, we must find it interesting that the very man Jesus “touched” was a man who was already dead. Spiritually speaking, he was a man who, in the sense of carnal living, had none. He was, for the purposes of this argument, dead-to-self, dead to sinful desire, and dead to his Adamic nature. Oh how we long for this testimony! Let it be our objective in life, that as we come to know Him more and more, we become less and less prevalent (Jn 3:30). Rightly has the psalmist said, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?... Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Ps 116:12, 15). Surely this is our good and reasonable service (Rom 12:1-2).
Secondly, we have reason to believe this man was part of God's “remnant”. Why do we believe this? Because he was “the only son of his mother”. He was in the family of his mother, but counted as a son, not simply as a member of the heavenly family. He was saved and set-apart as a son (note Heb 12:5-11). With the mother being representative of the church at large (Song 1:6; 3:4, 11; 6:9; 8:2,5; Jn 19:26-27; Rev 12:1-6; etc.), we can see the son then as that “beloved disciple” who comes forth out of the church (Jn 19:26-27). The son is counted as “beloved” but the woman is counted as “a widow”. In other words, she knows no present-tense intimacy. While she may have, at one time, possessed somewhat of an intimate relationship with the Bridegroom, her love has now waxed cold. Her oil has run out, and she is delayed in acquiring more (Matt 25:1-13). The Greek word used here for widow means, “deficient one”. Surely this speaks to us of more than just her natural state! And how interesting, and yet saddening, that the masses of people were “with her”. How many of her same spiritual sort were an accompaniment! Without doubt, can we not notice that the whole head is sick? But mercifully still, it is for this reason indeed that the son of the mother is soon quickened and brought to life. This time, not of his own being, but that eternal life of his Lord.
Thirdly, let us now further notice the motive for such a glorious manifestation in the son. It was simply because Jesus was moved with compassion: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not” (Lk 7:13). Indeed, when the Lord Jesus looked upon her countenance and deficiency, He saw an opportunity to turn her affections towards Him. He will take advantage of this opportunity to win the hearts of His complacent ones, once and for all. How will He do it, we might ask? He will do it through a manifestation of Himself in a people! The Greek word used here for compassion means, “to have the bowels yearn.” Can you hear the sound of such yearning? Do you witness to the heart-cry of our Lord for His people to turn and return to Him? Truly, He is proclaiming His inner desire to us and through us for all of creation: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee... the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isa 60:1-3).
The tool God uses to capture the woman’s weeping heart is the son in whom His glory is revealed! For was it not the woman’s deficiency and weeping that moved the Lord to “touch the bier [coffin]”, as we have previously noted? And was it not because of the woman’s lack, and the son’s death-to-self that moved the Lord to proclaim, “Arise”!? Can we see the picture here? At the very touch of our Lord, a fountain was opened for “sin and for uncleanness” (Zech 13:1), and the fullness of God was quickened to fully dwell with man! At the very breath of our Lord, the glory of God was arisen upon the son: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:16). What a glorious day this will be! He that was dead will surely arise and begin to speak the powerful and commanding Word of God. He that is seeking His death to self, and allowing the fire of God to utterly consume him will, one day, stand and come to culmination and wield that two-edged sword with authority! The “greater works” will be manifested! Jesus then will “deliver him to his mother”, and watch His perfections come forth all around. They will be as Jesus, possessing great life, a vessel used to usher life to the body: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit… As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly” (1 Cor 15:45, 48). Not one word will fall to the ground (Ps 17:2)! It will be a perfect seed! The world is waiting. Certainly, the counsel of Scripture agrees: “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God” (Rom 8:19). And not only waiting, but weeping too! Weeping sore with distress, remembering a passion once possessed, a fire once kindled, a love once zealous. By the rivers of Babylon they are weeping and waiting to be delivered. Yearning for the day when His glory is revealed! Are you willing to be God’s tool? Are you willing to endure the chastening that ye be counted as sons (Heb 12:7)?
Lastly, let us note what a move of God this will be, in that, no flesh will be glorified, and no mere man will be lifted up! By the wondrous works of God shown, “there came a fear on all: and they glorified God” (Lk 7:16). Verily, through His sons, God will visit His people, and glorify Himself fully. He will capture the hearts of His hidden and distressed ones all over the earth. His compassion will seep through the pores of these firstfruits. He will cause the sound of rain to be heard in a land where there is none. And this “rumor of Him” will go forth throughout all the earth.
Friends, let's let Him be glorified!
For "we have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour" (Song 8:8-10).
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