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The
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity.
The
Collect.
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O
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LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity
cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety
without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
11 And it came
to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his
disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now
when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the
city was with her. 13 And
when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14 And
he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 And he
that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16 And
there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet
is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17 And
this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the
region round about. 18 And
the disciples of John shewed him of all these things. (Luke 7:11-18)
The text for the day has profound
implication for the soul of man and disposition of the dead. There are
differing types of death – physical and spiritual. In order to understand
the application of today’s text, two salient points need addressing from the
first:
Who are the dead? Who are the living?
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called
Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12 Now
when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried
out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the
city was with her.
The Dead
Those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who have no forgiveness
for their sins…those for whom there has been no redemption for sins. That
includes all the world which dwells in utter darkness.
ALL were dead in trespasses and sins before being made alive
in Christ by the Holy Spirit: And you hath
he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past
ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:1-2)
The dead hear not. Who stopped their ears? Not God. Not even
Satan. They themselves have chosen to be dumb to the reality of God.
This son of the widow is dead, but death cannot exist in the
presence of the Fountain of Life.
Jesus knows the importance of a son or daughter to a widow.
The boy is all his mother has.
The widow made no audible request of Christ, but Christ knew
her abject sorrow and took compassion on her as He always does with those who
face calamity.
13 And
when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
Jesus never desires our sorrow, but our joy in life. He
neither wants us to ‘fear’ or to ‘weep’. Fear not, I am with thee always, even
unto the end of the world. Or “Hagar, why weepest thou?”
The desire of Christ is always for our extreme joy in Him.
And Christ knows there is no real joy, or life, apart from that which He
offers.
He sends no one to Hell. The lost, due to their rejection of Him, send
themselves to Hell.
14 And
he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. When God
is at work, we had best stand still and see the marvelous works that His hands
perform. Stillness is a vanishing quality in a world bent on technology and
pragmaticism. As God said to Job in Job 37:14 “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works
of God”
Or Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted
among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”
So those who bore the body remained motionless while
God worked.
And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
Though the ears of the Rabbi’s maiden were closed in the lock
of death, the young girl heard the voice of Christ. Though Lazarus lay long
dead in a stone cold tomb, the voice of Christ, his friend, penetrated the bars
of death and were heard in newness of life. So with this young man.
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And
he delivered him to his mother.
Was dead! No longer dead because he had heard and responded
to the voice of Christ. He sat up and began to speak. Once you have heard the
voice of Christ whisper in your ear a personal message, you cannot fail to
speak out. You do not keep it a secret.
Have you heard that voice? Has your dead ears responded in
life?
When were you dead, and have you been called to life? Have
you listened? Did you respond by unashamedly speaking out?
We were ALL dead prior to responding in faith to the grace of
Christ. All lost. All dead.
How many are righteous?
10 As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none
that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They
are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is
none that doeth good, no, not one. (Romans 23)
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God; (Romans 3:23)
ALL? Does that include you and me?
Yes, ALL!
What is the condemnation to those who sin such as you and I have done?
This is LIFE
20 For when
ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What
fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of
those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and
become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end
everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:20-23)
What remedy is there for all of us who are born under the
condemnation of sin?
Rom10: 8 But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that
is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:8-11)
Christ is the great Creator and
Giver of Life. Death will not exist in His presence. So we must insure our
salvation that we may be present with him.
How?
Know that the wages of sin are death
Admit we are dreadful sinners and
cannot save ourselves through any good works
Repent of our sins and turn away
from the desires of the flesh.
Receive Christ as you Lord and
Savior – not simply Savior, but Lord of your life as well.
How many of us present today have taken a ‘dry’ shower, or a
‘dry’ swim, or walked in a ‘dry’ rain?
Is it possible to get into the water, or to come into contact
with a fountain of water, and remain dry?
There is a River of Life which makes all alive who bathe
therein and drink from its fountain:
13 Jesus
answered and said unto her, Whosoever
drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the
water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give
him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14)
When we are IN Christ, all our sins are covered by His blood. When we
are IN the River of Life, we are wet with that water of life all over. We are
baptized in newness of life.
Your eternal destiny depends upon which choice you make at
the crossroads of life – will you be fearful and unbelieving? Or will you
partake of the Tree of Life and Fountain of Living Waters?
5 And he
that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto
me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said
unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will
give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and
brimstone: which is the second death.
(Rev
2:5-8)
Simple decision – That whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15)
Have you, too, believed unto salvation? For he
saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I
succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)
