Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier
Luke 7:11-17
In the name of Jesus the Resurrection and the Life. Amen.
Last week we heard the powerful claim of Jesus that He could keep people from death. He declares, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51 ESV). Today, we see an example that Jesus has the power to do what He says that He can do. He speaks His power filled Word to a dead man saying, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14 ESV). With these words, the young man was brought back to life, sat up, and was able to speak.
In the Holy Scriptures, we have been given the gift of the written record of historical events in order to teach us and to comfort us. From such texts we learn to trust in the promises of God. When overwhelming events take place in our own lives, we are able to set our eyes on Jesus and trust in His promises. From such texts we also learn how to be merciful to others when such events take place in their lives.
In the church, we gather to hear these words and to set aside time to contemplate and learn them. Then in our individual lives we continue to learn as we study the Bible in our own devotions. These Words are to be always before us in order that we are always learning to repent from our sin and trust in Christ alone.
The problem is that we become indifferent and prideful in our hearts thinking that we already know it all. We think, “I’ve already heard that one.” “Tell me something new.”
We act as if we were sitting on plane right before it takes off. You know, when the stewardess gives the instructions about wearing a seat belt, putting on the oxygen mask, and using the seat as a floatation device. She is trying to give you some important life preserving instructions. Yet, people are indifferent, talking, reading, and even staring out the window. Nevertheless, they continue to give the same instructions ever time….repetition, repetition, repetition. With this process, these instructions are constantly before your eyes. They are telling you these things just in case the situation ever does take. If it does, you will be prepared.
Now the odds that you will ever need to act upon these airline direction are pretty slim. But today, we are not talking about slim odds. We are talking about the reality of life in a sinful fallen world. There will be times of suffering, pain, destruction, and even death in your life. We’re not talking about hypothetical situations, we are talking about reality.
Therefore, repent from any indifference to hearing God’s Word. Pay attention, listen up, and learn. His words are given for our instruction that we may learn to trust in Him all the more, especially when we are overtaken by tragic events in our lives. St. Paul writes in Romans chapter fifteen, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:4 (ESV) Through these texts we gain hope.
In today’s Gospel text, we learn that Jesus, who is life, is followed by a crowd into the city of Nain. As He is entering the city, He meets with another crowd following a young man, who is dead. In the crowd is the mother of the young man. Verse thirteen reads, “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Here we learn of our Lord’s compassion on the widow who is suffering at the loss of her son. He then takes upon her suffering and unites it with His own bitter suffering. He then comforts her with His Word, “Do not weep.” He then takes the death of the young man and unites it with His death upon the cross. Then He speaks His Word, “Arise.”
From this we learn that our Lord is compassionate and merciful. He is not indifferent to the widow, but rather comes to her to comfort her. He does not wait until she invites Him. No, He comes to her with His Word of comfort. He is present for her. In the same way, He is merciful and compassionate towards us. He comes to us with His Word of comfort telling us not to weep in our sorrow, pain, affliction, and even in the face of death of our loved ones and our own coming death. He opens our ears and speaks peace to us. He opens our eyes that they may be set upon Him. He cares for us and as He shows us in this passage. He is present for us.
From this passage we learn from our Jesus to be merciful and compassionate toward others in their time of need. We learn that it is His Word of comfort that we can bring to others in their day of trouble. Also, as we learn how merciful Jesus is , we discover how unmerciful we truly are toward others. From God’s Word we learn to put death such sinful attitudes. We continue to learn to turn to Jesus trusting in His mercy towards us knowing that in His Words of compassion for us we are renewed in our hearts. As our faith in Him increases, our love towards others continues to flow forth. It grows from a small trickling stream into a mighty gushing river. Because He loved us, we love others. His love for us flows through us and towards others.
From this passage we learn that the Word of Jesus is efficacious, that is powerful. It is effective, causing wonderful things to happen. The powerful word of Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51 ESV). In today’s Gospel text, we see the effect of this Word of Jesus when He speaks saying, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7:14 ESV). This word is efficacious doing what it says. Jesus speaks the man back to life. As He says, “Arise” the man is risen from the dead. He is no longer dead; he is alive.
From this passage we learn of the power that is in the Word of God. We learn that death has no power over the believer. Death is powerless. Because Jesus was put to death for us, He put death to death. He took away its power. Death is now just an empty shell. It claims power and tries to terrify, but through the Word of God we learn that for the believer this is just plain hype and crafty marketing.
Death is like a set of power tools placed on a shelf in a home improvement store. Let me explain. This coming week you will see all kinds of ads for power tools in preparation for Father’s Day. You’ll see ads for power drills that claim the power of 12 volts or even boast in the power of 24 volts. 24 volts, now that’s a drill. However, if that drill is not plugged into a power source either a wall socket or battery, that drill remains powerless. It can boast all that it wants, but apart from the electricity it is only as good as an empty cardboard box. It is just an empty shell powerless to do what it claims
Because of Jesus, death has lost its sting. Death is powerless. It is merely a empty cardboard box, with no power over the believer to do what it claims.
For believers we know that the power is in the Word of God. It is that Word that cries out to the young man to arise in this text and it is that Word that will cry out to you on the Last Day. Your bodies and the bodies of our loved ones who have died in the Lord will arise to eternal life. We will hear those Words spoken to us. “William, arise!” “Megan, arise!” “Mike, arise!” And it will be so.
Take comfort in these words knowing that Jesus does what He says. Because Jesus lives, you too shall live. Continue to grow in your understanding of His Word, so that in the midst of trouble and in the hour of death you can joyfully sing. Because you know that your Redeemer lives you can sing the words of Samuel Medley’s hymn:
He lives to silence all my fears
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart
He lives all blessings to impart
He lives and I shall conquer death
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives
Amen.
