Dear Christian friends:

We see a very wonderful thing happen here in out text: Jesus talks to a dead man as if he were still alive. (If you see someone talking to a dead man you would think he is a close friend and loved the dead one very much and is heart-broken or he is crazy.) But here Jesus talks to a stranger. He is not heart-broken and he is not crazy. He is God. He talks to the young dead man and he hears Jesus' word and he awakens and arises. Truly that is a wonderful work.

But something more wonderful we see here: Jesus' love and pity for the mother of the young man. Before her husband had died and now her only son had died. Although she was was a stranger to Him Jesus loved her and felt sorry for her. That is very wonderful.

We do not see such love and pity in this world except when Jesus' Spirit lives in someone and he shows the same love and pity for those in trouble. This text gives us much comfort and encouragement for our life as followers of Jesus. So let us consider:


This is great comfort for dying sinners like us. When your sins bother you and your conscience blames you remember Jesus' wonderful power here. He speaks one word and death must leave. Jesus is the Conqueror of death. The Bible says, "but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10)

And remember: He who conquers death has also conquered sin. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23) Death and sin are joined in one. He who conquers death must also take away sin. And he who forgives sin also gives life eternal. St. Paul mocked death when he said: "Oh death where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

So don't let your sins blame and condemn you and scare you. Jesus has taken away your sins. Believe in Him and you will find rest and peace for your souls. By forgiving your sins He gives you faith, hope and strength like a new born person to serve and praise God.

If you weep and are sad when a loved one dies, and who is not? Then go to Nain and see again how wonderfully Jesus gives the risen son back to his mother. So will Jesus do also for you and all your loved ones who die with faith in Him.

When He comes again He will speak to all the dead who sleep in their graves and they will hear His voice and arise with new and glorious bodies never to die again. And we will all be united again with our loved ones and all believers in Christ. Now, because we have such a wonderful God and Savior let us live for Him to give glory to His name on earth.

Let's show Jesus' love and pity to those in trouble. (Tell of Robert Moffatt. He stood by the offering plate on Sunday and said to the congregation: "I give myself to missionary service. It is all I have to give." Later he became the first missionary to Africa.

Perhaps you can't go to Africa to preach the Good News of Jesus, but you can tell many people here at home the wonderful story of Jesus. Like Jesus sometimes you go to a funeral. Perhaps a neighbor dies or someone where you work dies or a relative dies or a friend dies and you go to the funeral. What do you say to the people who mourn? How do you feel about them? Do you pity them and feel sorry for them like Jesus here did at the funeral in Nain?

If you believe in Jesus and love Him, you will feel sorry for them and show love and kindness to them. You will tell them that you are sorry because their loved one has died. But try to say more than that. Tell them that their loved one sleeps in Jesus and one day He will come again to awaken and raise up their loved one. Give them comfort and hope in Jesus. If you can't say the words give them a card which quotes the Bible verses about eternal life with God in heaven.

Don't think that is small work. That is very great and important work. Jesus once told his disciples (they were surprised to see this wonderful works): "The works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do." (John 14:12)

I often wondered when I was a boy about that saying of Jesus: how can we do greater works than Jesus did? Now I know, when we preach to good news about sin-forgiveness and resurrection and eternal life in heaven. That's how. So remember here at Nain Jesus did wonderful works. You can too!

Amen.