Jesus as God
Jesus Raises the Widow's Son at Nain
The scene strongly evokes Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, while Jesus acts with striking immediacy.
How this passage contributes to the case:
The labels below identify the kinds of evidence for Jesus' divinity found in this passage.
Select a label for an explanation.
Authority over Life and Death
Divine Authority
Old Testament YHWH Identification
Raises the Dead
Gives Life
Exercises Divine Authority
Strength of evidence: Strong.
This passage provides substantial evidence relevant to Jesus' divine identity when read in its literary and historical context.
Scripture
What Was Said or Done
Jesus compassionately stops a funeral and directly commands a widow's dead only son to arise; the young man sits up and speaks.
Historical and Cultural Context
Elijah cries to the LORD for the widow's son to live, and Elisha prays before the Shunammite's son revives.
Old Testament Background
Jesus does not petition God in the narrative. He touches the bier and says, 'Young man, I say to you, arise.' The crowd then declares both that a great prophet has arisen and that God has visited his people.
Exposition
Prophetic resurrection precedents prevent a simplistic miracle-equals-deity argument. Yet Jesus' direct life-giving command and Luke's divine-visitation language make the episode strongly Christological.
Why This Points to His Divinity
Fear seizes the crowd; they glorify God, call Jesus a great prophet, and say God has visited his people.
Response of the Hearers
Their words simultaneously recognize prophetic continuity and divine visitation through Jesus.