Do Not Weep: Jesus and the Widow of Nain
Luke 7:11-17; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Numbers 19:11; John 11:25 New Testament PrincipleCompassion
Jesus and His disciples, with a big crowd, came near the town of Nain. At the town gate they met a funeral. A widow's only son had died, and she was walking behind his coffin, crying. No one asked Jesus for help. But when the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her. "Do not weep," He said. He touched the coffin and said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Everyone praised God – "God has visited His people!" Compassion means seeing someone's hurt, caring and coming close to help, the way Jesus does.
Compassion is seeing someone's pain and moving toward them to help. Jesus saw the crying widow, His heart went out to her, and He came close and gave her son back. Jesus still sees us and cares, and He teaches us to care for others.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it
- RestorationJesus makes it new (this lesson)
Memory verse
“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, "Do not weep."”
Luke 7:13 BSB
The Big Story · Restoration
Sin brought death into God's good world, and death breaks hearts. At Nain, Jesus gave a small preview of the end of the story, when He will raise the dead and "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain."
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Who noticed?
- Ellie’s Lab (science experiment): Listen to the heart
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Two crowds
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus sees me and cares!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Sad and glad faces, Color the big hug
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus came to the town of Nain with a big crowd. At the gate He saw a funeral. A widow's only son had died, and she was crying. No one asked Jesus to help. But Jesus saw her, and His heart went out to her. "Do not cry," He said. Then He touched the coffin and said, "Young man, get up!" The young man sat up and talked, and Jesus gave him back to his mom. Compassion means seeing someone's hurt and coming close to help, like Jesus.
Start here
Do the "Who noticed?" object lesson. Then ask, "Is it easy or hard to notice when someone is sad?" Say, "Today Jesus noticed someone, and nobody even asked Him to help!"
Bible story 6 min
One day Jesus walked to a town called Nain. His friends came too. A big crowd came with them.
As they came near the town gate, they met another crowd. It was a funeral. Some men were carrying a young man who had died. His mom walked behind him. She was crying.
This mom was a widow. Her husband had died. Now her only son had died too. She was all alone.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
At the town gate 10 min
You’ll need: A blanket, Tissues
- Choose a narrator, Jesus, the widow, the young man, Peter and two carriers.
- Act out the skit. The young man sits up when Jesus says, "Get up!"
- Switch parts so more kids get a turn.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
As Jesus came near the town of Nain, He met a funeral coming out the gate. A widow's only son had died, and with him she had lost her family and her support. No one asked Jesus for anything. But "when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her" and said, "Do not weep." He touched the coffin and commanded, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" The dead man sat up and spoke, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Compassion sees someone's pain and moves toward them to help, just as Jesus moves toward us.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: See, feel, come close, help, Two crowds
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at church, online and on screens
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
At the gate of Nain, Jesus met a funeral procession for a widow's only son, a loss that left her grieving, alone and without support. Unasked, "the Lord saw her" and "had compassion on her." He broke through the barrier of death and uncleanness by touching the coffin and commanding the young man to rise, then "gave him back to his mother," just as Elijah once had – but with only a word. The crowd rightly said, "God has visited His people." Compassion is seeing pain and moving toward it, and Jesus, the Lord of life, is compassion in person.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Like Elijah, but greater, Moving toward the hurt
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, at school, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Compassion
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Jesus the KingThe Good SamaritanLuke 10:25-37; 2 Chronicles 28:8-15When an expert in the law asked, "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus told a story about a Samaritan who stopped to care for a hurt stranger, and said, "Go and do likewise."New TestamentCompassion
Kings and ProphetsJonah Runs from GodJonah 1:1-17; Jonah 2:1-10; Jonah 3:1-10; Jonah 4:1-11Jonah ran from God's call to Nineveh, but God chased him, rescued him with a big fish, and showed His great compassion to a whole city that turned from evil.Old TestamentCompassion