The pall bearers stand still after Jesus has touched the bier. They know the serious consequence of what he did. He would instantly be rendered ritually unclean in touching the corpse (Nm 19:11). Time freezes for the pall bearers who await Jesus’ next step. Did it even cross their minds that he would actually bring the dead man back to life? But when the man comes back to life, fear seizes the large crowd, yet they end up glorifying God.

What stands out in this story is Jesus’ compassion toward the widowed mother. With no husband and no other male child to speak for her, she is being consigned to the vulnerable sector of society. “Do not weep” (v 13), Jesus says words of comfort and assurance to her. He has come unbidden. He does not personally know the dead man or the widow. But Jesus’ heart goes out for them. His words of comfort are not enough. He touches the corpse, then gives the living son back to his mother.

The Old Testament rule was formed to protect clean people from turning unclean when touching a corpse. Jesus is more interested in expressing compassion towards those who suffer and are in grief. He will go beyond touching a corpse. He himself will enter the door of death and emerge from it as victorious King, Lord of life and Conqueror of death.

Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!”

The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”

This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.