‘And he came near and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still.'
Then He came near to the bier and touched it, probably in a recognised way in order to indicate that the carriers should stop. This was not a time for words. And they did stop immediately. This required a certain level of faith, and is the only sign of faith that we discover in the story (the phrase is central in the chiasmus), but it was enough. In spite of the situation they were waiting for Jesus to do something.
Normally for Jesus to touch the bier would render Him ‘unclean'. But in this case it was the act of One Who rose above such things because of what He was about to do. In the same way as when He had previously touched the leper and healed him (Luke 5:13) He was now also conscious of no uncleanness (all good Jews knew instantly when they had become unclean). He stood in a unique position to such things, for He was turning all things upside down. As the man lived there could be no question of uncleanness.
‘And he said, “Young man, I say to you, Arise.” '
Then Jesus spoke to the young man, saying, “Young man, I say to you, Arise.” John tells us that one day that voice will speak the same words and all who are in the graves will come forth, some to everlasting life, and some to judgment (John 5:28-29). It was the command of the Lord of life, the heavenly King. Again Jesus had healed by a word (compare Luke 7:7, also Luke 4:39). He was a man ‘under' the greatest Authority of all.