Text: Luke 7.
Within this narrative of the ministry and the signs performed by the Lord in a tiny northern village, we come to learn that His sign exceeds the raising of the dead by the Prophet Elijah. Also, the water baptism of John is not the “baptism” that Y’shua instructed to His disciples in Mark 16.
The city of Nain goes by Nin today. It is a real place.
Here is a historical event in Nain. It is mentioned only once in the Bible. Nein — also Nain or Naim in English — is an Arab village in northern Israel. Located in the Lower Galilee, 14 kilometers south of Nazareth, Nein covers a land area of approximately 1,000 dunums and falls under the jurisdiction of Bustan al-Marj Regional Council, whose headquarters it hosts.
It was basically in the back yard of the Lord’s neighborhood.
Raising The Dead
Luke 7:11 It happened soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples went with him, along with a great multitude.
Let compare the healing MO between Elijah and the Lord.
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.”
Luke 7:15 He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. He gave him to his mother.
On His Word, He commanded the dead boy to rise and sit up.
A great multitude here were said by Luke later that were all water baptized by John in person (v. 29).
Raising the dead is simply not an ordinary prophet’s work. The great prophet is Israel, Elijah, had one record of it.
1 Kings 17:17-24 ESV – Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son
17 After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. 18 And she said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” 19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?” 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life[a] come into him again.” 22 And the Lord listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives.” 24 And the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”
Prophet Plus
The Galileans understand that this was the One prophesied by Moses in Deuteronomy 19, who is called The Prophet. And all people must listen to The Prophet.
The people remembered Elijah’s great miracle. Elijah pleaded with God Almighty to impart healing on the widow’s son. But Y’shua commanded the dead boy to live.
In other words, Y’shua was more than a prophet. He is on par with the One who gave favor to Elijah for raising the dead.
That is why the people said He was sent from God and “God has visited His people”.
Luke 7:16 Fear took hold on all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”
Luke 7:21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
Water Baptism
Jesus was completely fulfilling the messianic prophecies by trucking His Mobile General Hospital.
Remember these people were all water baptized but none had the power to heal diseases and none cast out evil spirits.
It is because water baptism does not save. It is the Spirit baptism that is a requirement for salvation.
When we compare within Scripture, we learn the truth.
Spirit Baptism
The real salvation baptism is one that is administered by Y’shua, not by a man, in the Spirit of God. The real salvation baptism is not the one that uses water as a symbol. The Spirit-baptized believer shall be imparted many signs to perform as a witness to the Lord Jesus Christ, including healing the sick (v. 18).
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.
Mark 16:17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new languages;
Mark 16:18 they will take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will in no way hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:20 They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and 👉🏼confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Daniel's 70TH Week (Shavua) "I Will Be Back!" 