Luke 7:11

The day after. The Son of the Widow at Nain, Luke 7:11-17. See Middle Galilean Ministry; The Ministry of Our Lord; on miracles pp. 208-213. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 146) between this and the reading “soon after.” Most modern scholars consider the former reading to be more in keeping with the style Luke commonly employs in writing.

He went. Thus begins the second great missionary journey through the towns and villages of Galilee, probably during the early autumn of A.D. 29 (see on Matt. 4:12; Matt. 5:1; Mark 1:39). The second tour began at Capernaum, Jesus’ headquarters during His ministry in Galilee (see on Matt. 4:13), at most but a few days after the appointment of the twelve disciples and the giving of the Sermon on the Mount (see on Matt. 5:1; Luke 7:1). The first tour had been conducted earlier during the same summer (see on Matt. 4:23; Mark 1:39; 2:1; Luke 4:16).

Having formally inaugurated the kingdom of divine grace with the appointment of the Twelve (see on Matt. 5:1), and having proclaimed the fundamental law and purpose of the kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount, Christ now set forth on His second tour through Galilee to demonstrate by precept and example the nature of His kingdom and the scope of its benefits to mankind.

As with the first tour (see on Mark 1:39, 40), it is evident that only the more significant and impressive incidents are recorded by the gospel writers (cf. John 20:30, 31; 21:25). The first village mentioned on this journey is Nain (see under “Nain”), though Jesus probably ministered to the needs of the people and taught in other villages along the way. Whether He took a direct or more circuitous route is uncertain, though the latter would seem the more probable. Whether “much people” accompanied Jesus on His tour beyond Nain is not clear.

After the miracle at Nain came the day of ministry somewhere along the western shore of the Lake of Galilee, during the course of which Christ spoke the parables recorded in Matt. 13. That evening, as Christ and the disciples crossed the lake, the great storm arose (see on Matt. 8:23-27), and the following morning came the encounter with the Gadarene demoniacs (see on Mark 5:1-20). Later that day Jesus returned to Capernaum to attend the feast at Matthew’s home (Mark 2:15-17; see DA 342), healed the woman who touched the hem of His garment, and raised Jairus’ daughter (see on Mark 5:21-43). Thus, on the second tour, Jesus demonstrated His power over death, over the elements of nature, and over evil spirits; and in the series of parables set forth the principles of the kingdom of heaven and its operation among men. On this tour the Twelve, as His assistants, received a priceless training in methods of evangelism, a training which soon, in the third tour, they had the opportunity to put into practice.

Nain. This town is not mentioned elsewhere, either in the Bible or in secular sources, but is generally identified with the modern Nein, on the northern slopes of a mountain overlooking the broad plain of Esdraelon to the north. Nein is about 25 mi. (40 km.) southwest of the site of ancient Capernaum and about 5 mi. (8 km.) southeast of Nazareth. There is but one approach to the village, along a steep and rocky path (see DA 318) that comes in from the east. Just east of the village is a rockhewn burial ground still in use today.