WEEP NOT! ARISE!

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. 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. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 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. And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. (Luke 7:11-17).

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Gal. 1:3-4).

Dear brothers and sisters, when news of "Titanic" catastrophe reached shores of England it was difficult to get close to the steamship company office. So many people were trying to get to know whether their beloved ones survived. It was joy when on a board "Saved" one could read a name of the relative. It was weeping when such a name was written on the board "Lost."

Our Gospel text today describes an event that also has feelings of sorrow and joy, weeping and gladness. A certain widow of Nain has lost her only son. She had no once else to care for her. She lost her husband before. Now she has lost her son. A tragedy after a tragedy was falling on this poor lady. She has lost all her family! She had nice plans for life in the past. She got married, she gave birth to her son. And now there was only sorrow, only weeping, only tragedy. Death knows no mercy. Devil has no mercy. Through sin that entered into the world through our forefathers, the whole world became corrupted and enemy to God and to His creatures.

Our Bible text today reminds us of our chief problem, sin and of its consequence - death. Poor widow was born in sin like all of us. She has lost her husband. She has lost her son. She has lost her future. The Word reminds us through her sufferings tribulations that we endure, too. But Gospel today also reminds us of great comfort and hope that all of us have. This comfort and this hope is Jesus Christ.

Funeral could be finished in weeping at the cemetery if Jesus Christ would not stand on the road of the procession. The young man, the only son of the widow would be put into his tomb if the Only Son of God would not come across grief of the widow. For this sake He became man, as it is written, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Gal. 4:4, 5).

The Son of God, our Creator came across the funeral procession for He had a completely different future for the miserable woman. We read that "when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not." He is the merciful Lord. We can be indifferent. The Lord is different. He is holy. He is compassionate.

Dear brothers and sisters, how often we sinfully limit our compassion with our words only? But God is not like us. Jesus is true man but He is without sin, for He is also perfect God. This is why He comes to the poor mother and says, "Weep not!" What words to say in such a time as this! Will not the Lord cry when Lazarus, His friend, dies? But here words of the Lord are effective as always. As it is written, "For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast."

We read further, "And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still." The bier stopped. Jesus of Nazareth stopped, they stopped. Of Jesus it is written, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus is touched with the feelings of the widow. Jesus is touched with our feelings. He is our High Priest. He is the Son of God. He is our Savior.

The Jesus says only one sentence, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." If we said such words at the funeral, we could hurt mourning people even more. But when Jesus says the word it becomes effective immediately. He has power to forgive sins. He has power over Sabbath. He has power over death. This is why He says, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise."

Reaction to the word of God is instant. As it is written, "For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." Jesus said and the young man rose back to life. We read, "And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak." Everyone was amazed as it is written, "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." Jesus, the Great Prophet gives the son to his mother. Jesus is compassionate. Jesus is omnipotent. Jesus rose him back to life. Now the young man can praise the Lord again, help his mother and share the Gospel with all the people around him. As we read, "And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about."

Jesus came across the funeral and funeral resulted in resurrection. This was always a case in Jesus' earthly ministry. Jesus Christ and funeral are incompatible things, for Jesus loves us so much that He died for our sins on the Cross of Calvary. He rose back to life to declare us just in the eyes of God. By His death He overcame our death. By His resurrection on the third day He declared our own resurrection on the Last Day and our eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus earthly ministry was triumphantly finished by His glroius ascension. So today we cannot not see Jesus visibly coming across our funerals and saying "Weep not! Arise!" Yet we can hear His Word preached.

Besides Jesus has already stood on the road of our sin as it is written, "He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Is. 53:5). Today Jesus stands between us and devil, as it is written, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:13-17). Devil has no rights to accuse you any more. His accusations are blotted out by the Lord on His Cross.

Jesus is between us and death as He was between tomb and the son of the widow on Nain. As it is written, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:55-57). Jesus rose from the dead having paid full price for our sins. Jesus will rise us on the Last Day when He returns in His glory. Today we hear "Weep not." Soon time will come when we will hear, "Arise!" Jesus will be with us then and we will be living in His eternal Kingdom. Today He is with us already announcing us forgiveness of all our sins and inviting us to commune His holy and true body and blood for forgiveness of our sins and for life everlasting. Jesus is with usю Jesus is within us. Therefore death has no power over us. This is why we have eternal life. For the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. (Gal. 6:18).