(Luke 7:11-17) And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
The bier was the vessel in which the dead corpse was transported to the grave. Everyone that would handle the dead body was to be unclean. (Numbers 19:11) He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. And these that handled the dead body, placed it upon the bier, and carried the bier, would defile and make unclean all that they touched. (Numbers 19:22) And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean… So the bier was unclean. It was defiled and henceforth not to be touched, for the scriptures go on to say and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even. It was not Jewish custom to touch the dead body, to touch the bier, to touch the grave or anything that came in contact with a dead body. But Jesus came and touched the bier.
When Jesus came upon this city of Nain, he saw something that moved him to compassion. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, What he saw moved the heart of Jesus. And his heart moved his hand. And the hand of Jesus, the Son of God, reached forth and touched the bier; that which was unclean, on the way to the grave to deliver what belonged there and nowhere else, the empty, lifeless, product of Adam’s sin. The journey to the grave is a sure one. The undertaker will never fail. There is no detour, no delay, no other destination. To the grave the dead must go. There’s no reason to stop. But the bible says they that bare him stood still. Why? Because Jesus came and touched the bier.
There is no point in this journey to the grave where Jesus cannot intervene. There was a certain nobleman in Capernaum, who’s son was sick. The bible says that he was at the point of death. He besought Jesus to heal his child, and Jesus said (John 4:50) Go thy way; thy son liveth. Jesus came to the house of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, and they all thought he had come just a few minutes too late, for his daughter had passed the point of death and now lay there, dead. But Jesus (Luke 8:54) put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. This man, the widow’s son from Nain, had recently died and they were all on their way to the cemetery to bury the man. But when Jesus came, he stopped that procession with the touch of his hand and commanded, Young man… Arise. And then there was Lazarus, of whom his sister Martha had said (John 11:39) Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. But even in that late hour when Jesus showed up, he cried (John 11:43) Lazarus, come forth. There is no point on this journey to the grave where Jesus cannot intervene.
Bless the great god and our Savior Jesus Christ who had compassion on us! With just one touch, he can stop the bier. Our cursed unclean bodies are biers on the way to the grave to deliver the dead; carrying a soul that is dead in trespasses and sin. Oh but with one touch from the master’s hand, the pallbearers shall halt, the procession shall end, and the wheels of this bier shall lock. And that which lies dead in that bier shall arise at the voice of the Son of God. Jesus said (John 11:25) I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: God help us to live in the reality of so great a salvation that God has wrought in us. Paul said (Romans 6:13) But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead.. Don’t let the wrapper fool you. There’s no dead man in this bier. Paul said (Galatians 2:20) Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.