While many people avoid thinking about their mortality, the unavoidable truth is that we will all die. We have no solution to the problem of death, and we do not know when ‘the grim reaper’ will come knocking. But while we have no answers, Jesus does. In Luke chapter 7, we see Jesus’ power over death—a truth relevant to every person on earth. In this part of Luke’s Gospel, which centres on salvation, the raising of the widow’s son at Nain reveals that Jesus’ salvation is a free gift, available to everyone.
The power to save
Luke 7:11–17
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

