Luke 7:11-17
Jesus raises a widow’s son - He comes at the most critical situation. Will people believe in Him? Will they attempt to make Him their king by force? Or, will they walk away, looking upon Him as a comedian, a magician, a man who works with smoke and mirrors – Will the people respond by saying, “He puts on a great act but it’s simply that – it’s only an act – there really isn’t anything there!”? We review the story as it unfolds.
1. A large crowd was coming out of town carrying a coffin - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Sometime this weekend take a look at your most recent pay stub. What do you see? You see an amount of cash you can stash away in your pocket. That pay stub records the money you earned that you use to pay your bills until the next paycheck comes your way. It’s the money you live on. It’s the money you use to meet your obligations. It’s the money you set aside for a rainy day. It’s called “budgeting”.
But look deeper at that pay stub. You also see how much has been taken out for taxes, you’ll see how much has been placed in your 401 K account. You’ll see how much vacation time you receive. You’ll see how much has been taken out for disability should you need it. That pay stub speaks not only of the spending power you have now- but it also shows you the equity you will have in the future.
Not so with this poor woman. She had been provided for by her husband. But then he died. We don’t know how long she had been a widow, but we do know that her security had been shaken.
At least she had a son, who could provide for her. But now we see her double grief. Her only hope for a future had been taken away. Her only son was being carried out of the city for burial. Not only was she burying her child, she was facing a future without hope. There was no one to provide for her. In her grief she was all alone!
Can you relate to this woman’s plight? I know some you have experienced her grief- the loss of a child brings so much unhappiness, so much anguish, and so much heartache. Some of you have walked in this woman’s shadow knowing that there will be no tomorrows- you have heard a physician say, “your condition is terminal - there is nothing else we can do.” Some of you have experienced broken relationships, broken marriages, and some have been broken; as this woman, knowing that you have nothing, and there is no longer any financial support.
Some might ask, these stories in the Bible, could they really have happened as they were written? This story shows us how real they truly are. This incident could have been featured in this morning’s newspaper. Jesus encountered this woman 2,000 years ago- it touches us today where we live.
2. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” How do you react to the Savior’s response? Have there not been times when we have been met with empty words and shallow sympathy? Have there been times when we have waited for a listening ear only to receive silence? Have there been times when we have sought encouragement only to meet rejection? Have you ever received unwarranted disapproval? We’ve heard the proverb, “Those who can, do- those who can’t, criticize.”
The words of Jesus are filled with compassion, understanding, and kindness. He is able to sympathize with us. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is so much greater then all of the Head Priests when he writes, “And since our great High Priest is God’s Son Jesus, who is now in heaven, we must hold on firmly to the faith we are telling others about. You see, this Head priest of ours isn’t a person who can’t feel any sympathy for us in our weakness, because He has been tried and tested in every way, just as we are. But He never sinned. Therefore we can come joyfully to the throne of our God, whose heart is filled with love for those who don’t deserve it, and there we will be given the mercy and love we don’t deserve to help us when we really need it.” [Hebrews 4:14-16]
Jesus meets this woman with compassion and consideration. His words to her, “Don’t cry” were filled with faith and feeling.
3. Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” When Jesus broke into time and space death met its match. Death was finally defeated when Jesus burst from the grave on Easter morning. Yet, already, we see death’s grip weakened. He speaks to the corpse as if this young man were asleep!
Jesus has such authority for He is the author of life. He speaks to the young man individually, “young man, I say to you, get up!” In every resurrection which Jesus performs before His own resurrection, He speaks to the corpse individually. This young man, the little boy from Nain, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus- He each calls to life individually. On the Last Great Day Jesus will not speak individually but collectively. In this instance Jesus says, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” On the Last Great Day He will simply say, “Get up!”
We can be assured of this final resurrection. Says St. Paul, “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know the truth about those who are sleeping, so that you won’t be sad, like all the other people in the world who don’t have any hope. You see, since we believe that Jesus died and came back to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will have Him bring those who have fallen asleep back with Him.” [1 Thessalonians 4:13-14]
4. The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. As soon as the Savior speaks the young man begins to speak. What words were spoken we do not know. We could only imagine what he would have spoken. Could it have been concerning the glories of heaven? Yet could anyone adequately and sufficiently describe the glories of heaven effectively?
Possibly, it was one word, “Mother!” Yet, in an instant, mother and son are reunited. Sadness is turned into joy. Pain and suffering disappear. The family is restored. Where human efforts fail Jesus is able to restore and help us completely. What He was able to do for this woman He is able to accomplish in your life. The same concern Jesus had for this distraught woman, the same compassion, the same concern, He has for you.
5. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help His people.” At last the people come to the understanding of who this Jesus is. He is the true God. He is the One who came to save His people.
Jesus is the One who came on a divine mission to restore and reconcile people back to God and to each other. Is He a prophet? No, He is more then a mere prophet. He is the Lord God Almighty- who has come to help His people.
Sources:
1. A large crowd was coming out of town carrying a coffin - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Sometime this weekend take a look at your most recent pay stub. What do you see? You see an amount of cash you can stash away in your pocket. That pay stub records the money you earned that you use to pay your bills until the next paycheck comes your way. It’s the money you live on. It’s the money you use to meet your obligations. It’s the money you set aside for a rainy day. It’s called “budgeting”.
But look deeper at that pay stub. You also see how much has been taken out for taxes, you’ll see how much has been placed in your 401 K account. You’ll see how much vacation time you receive. You’ll see how much has been taken out for disability should you need it. That pay stub speaks not only of the spending power you have now- but it also shows you the equity you will have in the future.
Not so with this poor woman. She had been provided for by her husband. But then he died. We don’t know how long she had been a widow, but we do know that her security had been shaken.
At least she had a son, who could provide for her. But now we see her double grief. Her only hope for a future had been taken away. Her only son was being carried out of the city for burial. Not only was she burying her child, she was facing a future without hope. There was no one to provide for her. In her grief she was all alone!
Can you relate to this woman’s plight? I know some you have experienced her grief- the loss of a child brings so much unhappiness, so much anguish, and so much heartache. Some of you have walked in this woman’s shadow knowing that there will be no tomorrows- you have heard a physician say, “your condition is terminal - there is nothing else we can do.” Some of you have experienced broken relationships, broken marriages, and some have been broken; as this woman, knowing that you have nothing, and there is no longer any financial support.
Some might ask, these stories in the Bible, could they really have happened as they were written? This story shows us how real they truly are. This incident could have been featured in this morning’s newspaper. Jesus encountered this woman 2,000 years ago- it touches us today where we live.
2. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” How do you react to the Savior’s response? Have there not been times when we have been met with empty words and shallow sympathy? Have there been times when we have waited for a listening ear only to receive silence? Have there been times when we have sought encouragement only to meet rejection? Have you ever received unwarranted disapproval? We’ve heard the proverb, “Those who can, do- those who can’t, criticize.”
The words of Jesus are filled with compassion, understanding, and kindness. He is able to sympathize with us. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is so much greater then all of the Head Priests when he writes, “And since our great High Priest is God’s Son Jesus, who is now in heaven, we must hold on firmly to the faith we are telling others about. You see, this Head priest of ours isn’t a person who can’t feel any sympathy for us in our weakness, because He has been tried and tested in every way, just as we are. But He never sinned. Therefore we can come joyfully to the throne of our God, whose heart is filled with love for those who don’t deserve it, and there we will be given the mercy and love we don’t deserve to help us when we really need it.” [Hebrews 4:14-16]
Jesus meets this woman with compassion and consideration. His words to her, “Don’t cry” were filled with faith and feeling.
3. Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” When Jesus broke into time and space death met its match. Death was finally defeated when Jesus burst from the grave on Easter morning. Yet, already, we see death’s grip weakened. He speaks to the corpse as if this young man were asleep!
Jesus has such authority for He is the author of life. He speaks to the young man individually, “young man, I say to you, get up!” In every resurrection which Jesus performs before His own resurrection, He speaks to the corpse individually. This young man, the little boy from Nain, Jairus’ daughter, Lazarus- He each calls to life individually. On the Last Great Day Jesus will not speak individually but collectively. In this instance Jesus says, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” On the Last Great Day He will simply say, “Get up!”
We can be assured of this final resurrection. Says St. Paul, “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know the truth about those who are sleeping, so that you won’t be sad, like all the other people in the world who don’t have any hope. You see, since we believe that Jesus died and came back to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will have Him bring those who have fallen asleep back with Him.” [1 Thessalonians 4:13-14]
4. The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. As soon as the Savior speaks the young man begins to speak. What words were spoken we do not know. We could only imagine what he would have spoken. Could it have been concerning the glories of heaven? Yet could anyone adequately and sufficiently describe the glories of heaven effectively?
Possibly, it was one word, “Mother!” Yet, in an instant, mother and son are reunited. Sadness is turned into joy. Pain and suffering disappear. The family is restored. Where human efforts fail Jesus is able to restore and help us completely. What He was able to do for this woman He is able to accomplish in your life. The same concern Jesus had for this distraught woman, the same compassion, the same concern, He has for you.
5. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help His people.” At last the people come to the understanding of who this Jesus is. He is the true God. He is the One who came to save His people.
Jesus is the One who came on a divine mission to restore and reconcile people back to God and to each other. Is He a prophet? No, He is more then a mere prophet. He is the Lord God Almighty- who has come to help His people.
Sources:
NEW TESTAMENT in Everyday American English by Julian G. Anderson © 1984 Anderson Books Naples, FL
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