ACC ~ Luke 7 v11 - 17

OVERVIEW:

Luke connects this resurrection from the dead with the previous healing to show that the raising of the dead is the miracle that demonstrates that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophetic hope and that with him the messianic age has dawned (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The one who died was the only son of the woman, and she is a widow, drawing the hearer into emotional involvement in the story. Jesus, the Virgin’s son, meets the widow’s son (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). The dead man meets Jesus, the life and the resurrection (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). The weeping of the woman moves Jesus to compassion, just as the mother of the church now intercedes for us in our grief (AMBROSE). The power of holiness and of life is in him, for it is the holy body of Jesus, the Word made flesh, that brings salvation to this dead man and to all of humanity. At this point, the miracle causes Jesus’ fame to spread throughout Judea and the surrounding territory (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).

7:11-12 | The Setting

THE DEAD RESTORED TO LIFE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Observe how he joins miracle to miracle. In the former instance, the healing of the centurion’s servant, he was present by invitation, but here he draws near without being invited. No one summoned him to restore the dead man to life, but he comes to do so of his own accord. He seems to me to have purposely made this miracle also follow upon the former. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 36. [1]

[1] CGSL 153*.

THE VIRGIN’S SON MEETS THE WIDOW’S SON

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The Virgin’s son met the widow’s son. He became like a sponge for her tears and as life for the death of her son. Death turned about in its den and turned its back on the victorious one. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 6.23. [1]

[1] ECTD 126.

THE DEAD MAN MEETS THE LIFE AND THE RESURRECTION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The dead man was being buried, and many friends were conducting him to his tomb. Christ, the life and resurrection, meets him there. He is the Destroyer of death and of corruption. He is the One in whom we live and move and are. [1] He is who has restored the nature of man to that which it originally was and has set free our death-fraught flesh from the bonds of death. He had mercy upon the woman, and that her tears might be stopped, he commanded saying, “Weep not.” Immediately the cause of her weeping was done away. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 36. [2]

[1] Acts 17:28.

[2] CGSL 153*.

7:13-15 | The Compassion and the Miracle

THE CHURCH, THE SORROWING MOTHER

AMBROSE: Although there is grave sin that you cannot wash away yourself with the tears of your penitence, let the mother of the church weep for you. She who intercedes for all as a widowed mother for only sons is she who suffers with the spiritual grief of nature when she perceives her children urged on to death by mortal sins. We are heart of her heart, for there is also a spiritual heart that Paul has, saying, “Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.” [1] We are the heart of the church, since we are members of his Body, of his flesh and of his bones. [2] Let the pious mother grieve, let the crowd, too, help. Let not only the crowd but also a multitude feel pity for a good parent. Already at the funeral you will arise, already will you be released from the sepulcher; the attendants at your funeral will stand still, you will begin to speak words of life, all will be afraid; for very many are corrected by the example of one. They will praise God, who has bestowed upon us such great help for the avoidance of death. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.92. [3]

[1] Philem 20.

[2] Eph 5:30; cf. 1 Cor 12:12.

[3] EHG 180.

THE HOLY BODY OF JESUS BRINGS SALVATION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ raised him who was descending to his grave. The manner of his rising is plain to see. “He touched,” it says, “the bier and said, ‘Young man, I say unto thee, arise.’” How was not a word enough for raising him who was lying there? What is so difficult to it or past accomplishment? What is more powerful than the Word of God? Why then did he not work the miracle by only a word but also touched the bier? It was, my beloved, that you might learn that the holy body of Christ is productive for the salvation of man. The flesh of the almighty Word is the body of life and was clothed with his might. Consider that iron when brought into contact with fire produces the effects of fire and fulfills its functions. The flesh of Christ also has the power of giving life and annihilates the influence of death and corruption because it is the flesh of the Word, who gives life to all. May our Lord Jesus Christ also touch us that delivering us from evil works, even from fleshly lusts, he may unite us to the assemblies of the saints. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 36. [1]

[1] CGSL 155**.

7:16-17 | The Response of the People

THE NEWS SPREAD EVERYWHERE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Let it be known to people everywhere that the Lord is God, and even though he appeared in a form like us, yet has he given us the indications of a godlike power and majesty on many occasions and in a multitude of ways. He drove away diseases and rebuked unclean spirits. He gave the blind their sight. Finally, he even expelled death itself from the bodies of men, death that cruelly and mercilessly had tyrannized humankind from Adam even to Moses, according to the expression of the divine Paul. [1] That widow’s son at Nain arose unexpectedly and wonderfully. The miracle did not remain unknown to everyone throughout Judea but was announced abroad as a divine sign, and admiration was upon every tongue. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 37. [2]

[1] Rom 5:14.

[2] CGSL 156**.