Luke 7:11-17
11Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."
14Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
INTRODUCTION
All of us have experienced grievances in one way or another.
One of the most severe grievances perhaps is the lost of a dear one.
In the text we have read just now, telling us of a widow sending her only son to be buried.
She had previously lost her husband and now she lost her only son.
Humanly speaking, she has lost her hope and dependence.
This young man who had died believed to be more than 3 years of age.
According to the Jewish custom in those days, a dead child under a month old was carried out in the bosom of a person;
if a full month old, in a little coffin, which they carried in their arms;
one of a twelve month old was carried in a little coffin on the shoulder;
and one of three years old on a bier or bed,
The scripture tells the people were carrying the dead body on a bier.
This indicated that the deceased must be of 3 years of age or older.
If you have ever attended a funeral, you will see different scenario with different people groups.
I have seen funerals where noises of people weeping and religious chantings mixing together.
I have not seen a Jewish funeral before.
But I have seen from news funerals taken place in the Middle East countries.
Those funerals usually are full of outrages with people shouting and weeping, beating their chests and heads.
No matter how, we can imaging the sadness and hopelessness of this poor widow who lost her only son.
CHRIST’S PRESENCE
On the other end of the balance, we see a totally different picture surrounding Jesus Christ.
Prior to what Luke had recorded here,
Jesus healed the centurion’s servant.
We can imagine the feeling of those who were following Jesus then.
They saw with their own eyes the victorious Lord showed his power overcoming illnesses and diseases.
Maybe some of them were still talking about the miraculous signs and wonders they have seen.
They were joyfully following Jesus heading to another town for ministry.
But suddenly when they arrived Naim, they met with this crowd of sorrowful people.
What a contrast!
I remember at one time I conducted a wedding in the morning and a funeral in the afternoon on the same day.
It was hard for me to adjust my feelings.
But the reality is this, we often face different situations and need to adjust ourselves.
When Jesus saw the ban of people who were heading outskirt of the town to bury the dead body,
Jesus first comforted the widow asking her not to cry.
The Greek word ex mero motu express the nature of Christ that full of compassion.
He did not merely showed his love out of sympathy.
He then went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still.
Jesus commanded the young man to get up.
The young man sat up and walked.
Here shows the presence and power of Christ.
In the presence of Christ, there is peace.
In the presence of Christ, there is comfort.
In the presence of Christ, there is power.
The power to free the centurion’s servant from sickness.
The power to free this young man from death.
HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE CHRIST’S PRESENCE AND POWER?
The widow stopped crying at the master’s call.
The crowd, especially those who were carry the coffin stop moving at the Master’s touch.
The widow did not argue with the Lord saying “who are you to stop me from crying?
You don’t understand.
Previously I lost my husband and now I lost my son.
I have lost my hope.
Nobody understands me.
No one can help me.”
Instead, the widow just stopped crying.
Similarly, those who were carrying the coffin did not argue with the Lord, saying
Who are you to stop us?
We need to carry out our duties to bury this young man.
Instead, the crowd just stopped at the Lord’s instruction.
With this total submission to Christ’s instruction, they experienced miracles.
ALL GAVE GLORY TO GOD
At the end, as v16 & 17 say,
16They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
In the OT, 2 great prophets had raised the dead.
They were Elijah and Elisha.
The Jews believed, when the time comes for God to revive Israel, a great prophet will come about.
When John the Baptist preaches the gospel, rumours were going round saying that he is the great prophet.
But the news about Christ healing the sick and raising the dead went round many cities, towns and villages, reaching the ears of John the Baptist himself and his followers.
The story continues with John the Baptist sending 2 of his followers querying whether Jesus is the promised Christ.
If we follow on, we realise Jesus did not answer them directly.
Instead, Jesus continued to perform miracles and wonders and then replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.
Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
(Luke 7:22-23)
I think these were the witnesses we are lacking of today!
Let us experience Christ’s presence and power and give all glory and honour unto Him.
Let us speak out for the Lord His goodness and mercy.
Let us testify his transforming power in our lives.
Like the young man who was raised from the dead, let us rise up from the power of sin and calamity.
WHAT IS BORDERING YOU TODAY?
Dear friends,
What is bordering you today?
Do you have failure in your life?
Do you lost your hope in this world?
Are you in the midst of sadness and wandering who could comfort and help you?
Jesus is the answer.
Stop weeping.
Stop questioning and arguing.
Submit yourself to Jesus’ authority.
He will drive away your sadness and cares.
He will grant you comfort and help.
In Christ’s presence, we will experience His power.
With his power, we are able to testify his goodness and mercy.
With his help, we will not weary and weak.
The risen Lord is ever ready to empower us to reach out to the people around us.
Let us continue to preach Christ’s resurrection to reach every single soul in the world.
Let us Preach! Reach! Each!
