When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her,
"Don’t cry."
He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still.
He said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his
mother.
Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying,
"A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited his
people!"
This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all
the surrounding region.
What does this reveal about Jesus?
He empathizes with the needy and looks over them.
Notes & Applications:
In this case there was no direct request made of Jesus. Rather we see Jesus taking the initiative here. In the Old Testament, God held widows and orphans in a special category in which He himself took the authoritative role over them normally reserved for husbands or parents.
Ex 22:22-23 "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry."
Jer 49:11 Leave your orphans; I will protect their lives. Your widows too can trust in me."These concepts may explain his special intervention in this case. He is particularly empathetic with those who are needy and have no one to look after them. We remember also when he himself died on the cross he made sure to provide for his own mother by having John look after her.Jas 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.