I'm hopeful you've already been reading through the passage and jotting down notes and questions, perhaps even checking out commentaries, perhaps on Blue Letter Bible. It's only after all such activity that these questions will be helpful.
After all that, go back through with the questions below:
- We don't really know where Nain was located, but there are theories. See what maps you can find think it was. See if you can find one that puts it near Tyre or Sidon. Why do you think it would do that? Why or why do you not think this happened in Phoenicia?
- In commentaries, this miracle of Jesus is connected to Elijah and Elisha. Look at 1 Kings 17:17-24 and 2 Kings 4:32-37. What sorts of parallels do you see?
- A consistent word used for resurrection here is "wake". So Jesus tells the son to "wake up", the people say a prophet has "awaken among us" and Jesus tells the disciples of John that the dead are wakened. In light of that, what do you think about the people's statement that "a prophet has awakened among us"? What do you think the people think has happened here?
- Jesus' motivation for this miracle is that He is moved with compassion for a widow loosing her only son. Why do you think that's important here?
- The people stop when Jesus approaches the "coffin" or funeral bier. What do you think they thought was going to happen? Why stop as Jesus approaches? What do you think they were feeling as He approaches?
- Jesus gives the man back to his mother. What do you think is significant about that?
- The news about this goes out throughout Judea and the neighboring district. How does that help you locate Nain?
- It's after hearing about this resurrection account that John sends his disciples to Jesus. Why do you think it would be at hearing about this event? What do you think it meant to John?
- Having heard about a resurrection from the dead, why do you think John would ask whether they were to wait for someone else? What more do you think John was looking or waiting for?
- The disciples of John arrive as Jesus is healing up a storm and casting out demons. What do you think they thought of their question in that context? How comfortable do you think they were asking their question?
- Jesus' response seems to allude to Isaiah 35. Read that chapter. What parallels or connections do you see with that passage and Jesus' ministry? What parallels or connections do you see with that passage and John's ministry (if any)?
- His response also seems to allude to Isaiah 61, which Jesus read in Nazareth before they threw Him out. What parallels do you see between that passage and this one?
- In verse 23, what do you think Jesus is telling John?
- As Jesus speaks to the crowd about John, he asks them what they expected to see when they went out to see John. Why do you think He would point that out to them? What do you think is His point?
- Jesus says John is great, yet winds up with "yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than he." What do you think Jesus means there? Is He slamming John, is John not going to heaven (i.e., is John not saved), is John less than believers?
- Luke seems to have a "parenthetical" comment in verses 29 and 30. Why do you think he needed to add that detail right there? Did we not already get that from previous elements in Luke's account?
- Jesus calls the "generation" children. Who does that also include beyond Pharisees and Lawyers?
- Why do you think Jesus means by "children in the market calling"? Who are these "children"?
- The children call out complaining that there was no response to their "songs". What do you think Jesus is getting at? What is the "expectation" He is correcting?
- The Pharisees weren't pleased with John and they weren't pleased with Jesus. What do you think they wanted from either or both?
- Jesus concludes with "But wisdom is vindicated by all her children." What do you think that means?
Blessings upon you until we meet Thursday!
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