Pastor Mark Loest

Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost
Saginaw, Michigan
Trinity 16 (September 7, 2008)
Text: Trinity Luke 7:11-17
MP3 audio

Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)  11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.  12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.  13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.  16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”  17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Prayer: O Jesus, draw near my dying bed And take me into Thy keeping And say when my spirit hence is fled, “This child is not dead, but sleeping” And leave me not, Savior, till I rise To praise Thee in life eternal. Amen.

 While on earth Jesus’ presence always changed things.

At Cana, at a wedding feast, Jesus’ presence blessed a marriage, and then, at His word, water was changed into wine.

Another time His presence and words at a well changed the whole outlook on life for a woman so that she ran and told her friends, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did!”

And still another time Jesus appeared at the sea, got into one of the boats and, after teaching the crowds, told the fishermen to let out their nets. And even though it was morning and they had already fished all night without catching a thing, because it was Jesus’ word to them they obeyed. And the catch was so big their boat began to sink.

And the Gospels are full of many more examples like these.

Truly, Jesus’ presence changes things. But especially by his Word Jesus changes things. Which is what today’s Gospel Lesson is all about. For in it we hear how Jesus’ presence and Word cancelled a funeral! Simply by saying, “Young man, I say to you, arise,” a boy, who had been dead, was returned to his mother alive and moving and talking.

Funeral cancelled.

And of all the funerals that ever were, this single one ended with the family going back into the town with their loved one—not dead, but alive—and praising God.

Jesus’ presence and Word changes things.

I have seen a good number of things happen at funerals. In a time of grief anything is possible. Some things are indeed shocking. Like family members quarreling at the funeral home—right in front of the body. And demands made that are inappropriate for the Christian Funeral Service.

Even displays of affection such as flower arrangements and mementos can become so emotionally charged that in their grief people forget what a Christian funeral is all about. It is not all that unusual that the survivors come to the church expecting their wishes to be carried out, rather than coming to the church to hear about Jesus. Which is what a Christian Funeral is all about.

A Christian funeral is about Jesus. It’s not about the dead person. It’s not about human accomplishments—about wealth and success. Neither is it about overcoming suffering and pain and disease, nor extreme courage, nor even patriotism.

Those things are all fine and commendable attributes in a living person, but the fact of the matter is that the dead are dead, and that remains true in spite of the fact they may have been very kind, decent and even brave. The greatest and noblest of human qualities can’t keep you from dying; and are of no use to you once you are dead.

The dead young man being carried out of the city is described to us by the Evangelist St. Luke as, “the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.” It is obvious from these words that tragedy had struck this family a second time. His mother, being a widow, had already lost her husband. Now her son was dead. Little wonder then, that there went with her a considerable crowd from the town. This was a pitiful scene.

But as pitiful as it was—and we can imagine that this young man was a good boy to his mother and had loved and helped her after his father had died—all that was of no use now that he was dead. How true are the words in Hebrews, chapter 9, “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27 ESV)

There is an end to certain things when a loved one dies—an end to earthly things like marriage and the daily companionship and support and loving presence that you once shared. And while we will recognize each other in heaven and find joy and happiness there in the presence of God, things will be different. They will not be earthly, but heavenly.

I have known families that seem to have been struck more often than others with such misfortune like we find here. There are widows who have buried sons and daughters. Others, who having lost their spouse must now go through old age with sickness and disease—even forgetfulness–alone. That’s why Luke tells us that Jesus had compassion on this widow of Nain. He knows the suffering that accompanies tragedy and loss. He knows what death tares from us, and how it rips apart the family.

 

Jesus himself willingly took death on the cross to change the outcome of funerals. The people didn’t know it then, but what was different about this funeral from all the other funerals that had ever happened before at this town called Nain was the One who spoke compassionately and touched the bier, and told them not to weep, was the One who is the Resurrection and the Life.

At Lazarus’ grave Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26 ESV) And those words of Jesus were followed by a question to Martha: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)

And that question is the question that each person must answer for himself. “Do you believe this?” Do you say with Martha that Jesus “is the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world”? (John 11:27 ESV) Do you say, “Yes, Lord, I believe”?

Your answer makes a huge difference as to whether your funeral will be like the one coming out of the town of Nain or the one that went back into town. You see, believing in Jesus cancels your funeral.

Someday your loved ones will cry at your grave side. But their knowing that you believed in Jesus will change those tears from sadness to joy. That’s not to say they won’t cry. We can’t deny the separation that comes with death—even in the death of a child of God. But those who some day will cry for you and for me will also know that the outcome will be different—far different than for those who mourn who have no hope. And it is because Jesus has changed us.

Just as while on earth Jesus’ presence and Word changed things, so His presence and Word in your life changed—changes—you.

Baptism—which is water and the Word—changed you from an enemy of God and deserving His wrath and punishment into a child of God.

His Word “this is my body,” and “this is my blood” along with His promise, “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” gives us life and salvation.

When I, as you called and ordained pastor, said “in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins,” they are forgiven—when you believe it.

And all of these, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, and Forgiveness change our lives even as we go from here today. And Christ’s presence changes hearts and minds so that we willingly live as God’s people and seek to do God’s will.

Certainly sins go with us just as death is always there at the door. As Luther says in one of his greatest hymns,

In the midst of earthly life
Snares of death surround us;
Who shall help us in the strife
Lest the Foe confound us?
Thou only, Lord, Thou only.
We mourn that we have greatly erred,
That our sins Thy wrath have stirred.
Holy and righteous God!
Holy and mighty God!
Holy and all-merciful Savior!
Eternal Lord God!
Save us lest we perish
In the bitter pangs of death.
Have mercy, O Lord!

People don’t often think—nor do they ever talk that way anymore. But we should. We need Jesus’ presence in our lives, especially forgiving us our many sins. Now that He has ascended into heaven, He comes to us by His Word. And we should not despise the Word, whether it comes to us by preaching, or the teaching of it. That is Jesus’ way of coming into our lives and interrupting our affairs in order to set things straight.

When we deny His Word access to our hearts—whether by hardening our hearts to its message, or absenting ourselves from it, or avoiding its application to our lives through teaching—we risk that the Savior will not come around again and that the day of grace will have passed us by.

Imagine what life would have been like for that mother had Jesus never come to that town at that exact hour, on that particular day. It would have been, no doubt, full of sorrow and probably much suffering. But with Jesus, her days were changed and much joy was restored to her life. The hour of His Grace meant much peace restored to her life.

There are only so many hours that Jesus comes to our lives and crosses our paths with His Means of Grace. Those hours are precious. They restore us and give us life and hope. Sadly, for many those hours are better spent sleeping, or reading the paper, or in a restaurant booth. But while in bed they may receive rest, they’ll soon be tired. In the Sunday paper they find a word, but it is hardly ever encouraging. And in the restaurant they’ll receive food, but they will soon have to eat again.

It is certain that the young man who was returned to his mother, grew old and probably buried his mother and years later was buried himself. All of us must face the grave. But with Jesus our funerals are also changed. We have His Word of comfort. We know that the grave isn’t the end. That young man of Nain has been dead for almost 2000 years now, but he will someday hear Jesus voice again—when we all will hear Him call the dead to life.

And whether that day comes when we have been in the grave for centuries—or if it happens before we die, we can be sure of this: That in life and in death Jesus presence—and especially His Word—changes things. Amen.