Luke 7:11-17: Jesus Responds To My Pain
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
For many, this passage is one of the most beautiful in the whole Bible
It’s surprising to see the contrasts with so many feelings in such a short amount of verses
We see the deep pain of a woman
We see the great compassion of Jesus
We see the great power of Jesus
And we also see the glory that God receives through this miracle
While at the beginning of this story we might reach the depth of pain, the conclusion has a happy ending
They say that Jesus loved to crash funerals but he never preached a funeral service
We need to remember that the writer of this book is Luke
He is a doctor and a historian
He has a very medical and analytical description in his writings
We not only see Jesus’ compassion in this passage but we also see His power
He is much greater than a prophet
He is a compassionate benefactor to the poor
Historical context - The times of Jesus
Historical context - The times of Jesus
This place called “Nain” isn’t really a city, it’s more of a small town or a village
Jesus goes to this village that is about 25 miles away from Capernaum where He healed the centurion’s servant
And we really don’t see a reason why He went so far out of His way to get to this city
But we need to always remember that Jesus always had a purpose with everything He did
Nothing in His ministry was improvised
There are NO coincidences with God
Jesus arrived at exactly the right place and at the right time to run into this funeral procession
Since the trip was 25 miles long and burials usually happened the same day of the death, it’s possible that Jesus was already headed toward Nain even before the young man had died
Jesus was never late. He was always just on time
Jesus always arrives just on time to help us when we need Him the most Hebrews 4:16
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Let’s remember this the next time we feel like God is “late” to respond or that He just isn’t there
1. A Mother’s Deepest Pain v. 11-12
1. A Mother’s Deepest Pain v. 11-12
It’s interesting to see how this story begins
It begins with Jesus’ arrival to a city
He arrives with “many disciples” and “much people”
When He arrives he runs into another multitude in v. 12 that is carrying the body of a dead man
But it’s almost as if Luke cuts right past everyone and uses a telescope to zoom in on the character who is suffering the most
We learn that this dead man is an only son of his mother
This is enough for us to already begin to experience this mother’s terrible pain
They say that one of the greatest pains in life is the loss of a child.
Now imagine the loss of an only child
The Old Testament uses this image to express deep pain Jeremiah 6:26
26 O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
But the pain doesn’t end there. She’s not only the mother of an only child
She is also a widow
This means that she has already experienced the pain of losing of loved one
Her husband isn’t there beside her as she buries her son
She has to go through this valley alone
You can almost feel all the pain in the world with the words “the only son of his mother, and she was a widow”
This woman is alone in all her pain
She doesn’t have a man in her life to take care of her or protect her
In biblical times there were very few ways for a woman to make a living
She had lost any social status she had attained
And to add to all her pain, her family line would become extinct
There would be no one to carry on the family name
You can feel the pain in this woman’s life through these words
Someone said that losing a child is like putting a period before a sentence
It seems like the village has a lot of compassion for this woman since they are all accompanying her
They’ve been able to see this woman’s situation
It’s very probable that the widow is leading the procession beside the basket where they’re carrying her son
She has hired no less than two “professional cryers” to follow along
She has also hired many musicians to play instruments in the procession
I feel like many people could identify with this widow’s pain
Some might have lost loved ones
Some might have lost a child
Some people might be going through pain that just seems unbearable right now
Some have lost very close relationships and seem like they’re mourning the death of a friendship
Pain is something we all have to endure
Everyone in this world suffers
But in the saddest scenes of life we provide a stage for the God of heaven to reveal himself in power and compassion
2. The Savior’s Great Compassion v. 13
2. The Savior’s Great Compassion v. 13
“And when the Lord saw her”
Out of all the multitude
Out of all the people
Through all the commotion
Jesus rapidly identifies the hurting person
He sees the procession, sees the body, sees the mother, sees the absence of a father, sees she’s a widow
He saw her
Jesus sees our pain
Jesus isn’t like other false gods
Our God is compassionate
The Bible tells us that Jesus had compassion on her
This is the word used to describe the inner parts of the body
It hints at the idea that his intestines/gut/stomach was moved by this woman’s pain
Jesus’ emotional pain had a physical effect over Him
There’s no stronger word in the greek to express this pain
There is nothing sweeter than to know that someone else feel your pain with you
But even sweeter is to know that the God who created the heavens feels your pain with you
That his insides are moved for you
From the beginning of creation our God has been compassionate, full of grace and slow to anger Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 103:8, 111:4, 116:5; Lamentations 3:22-23
6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: The Lord is gracious and full of compassion.
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful.
22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The New Testament shows me that His heart hasn’t changed a bit Hebrews 2:17, 4:15; Matthew 9:36, 14:14; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 11:28-30
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
15 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.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I wonder how Jesus approached this widow
Maybe he had tears in his eyes
Maybe he hugged her
But obviously he wasn’t cold and calculated
He approached her and said “don’t cry”
He’s not saying “Suck it up! Stop your crying! Control yourself, woman!”
He’s saying “don’t keep crying, I’ll fix this”
While the multitude can only accompany the widow in her pain, Jesus is the only one that can fix it
3. The Savior’s Compassionate Power v. 14-17
3. The Savior’s Compassionate Power v. 14-17
Jesus works in the middle of tragedy
Luke calls Jesus “Lord” in v. 13 and here He shows that He is Lord over life and death
Here Jesus faces his great and final enemy 1 Corinthians 15:26
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Death is a great enemy, but Jesus is greater
This story is an illustration of 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
So Jesus simply speaks to the young man and the miracle happens
He didn’t have to touch him, he didn’t have to perform a ritual
The Word of God was enough
the young man obeys, gets up and begins to speak
It’s interesting that Jesus “delivered him to his mother”
It shows that Jesus cared for the mother
Jesus clearly says that because He lives, we will live also John 14:19
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Jesus says that He is the resurrection John 11:25
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus might not raise our child from the dead in a funeral, but we can be absolutely sure that this isn’t the end
Thanks to His victory over death we not only receive His compassion in the midst of trials but we also receive His victory in life Romans 8:37-39
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God hath visited His people
God hath visited His people
Here we see the purpose of the multitudes
They’re witnesses of the arrival of the Messianic age
God is among them
This phrase is repeated throughout the Old Testament
It’s a reference to say that God has come to save His people Ruth 1:6; Psalms 106:4; Luke 1:68-69
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; For he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David;
God has come
He has offered salvation
He has offered his only begotten son to give salvation
He who believes on Him will live
But there’s a warning to those who don’t believe John 8:24; 1 Corinthians 16:22
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.
Jesus is much more than a prophet
He is much more than a “great prophet” (v. 16)
The people didn’t understand everything about Jesus in the moment
Their description isn’t enough
He is God incarnate
God has visited his people
Application:
Application:
There are souls that are hurting
Some are hurting because of the children they’ve lost
Some are hurting for the children they wish they could have
Some are hurting for the relationships they’ve lost
Some are hurting because they’ve been attacked or betrayed
But cheer up
Don’t cry
Jesus is with you
He’s not only with you but He has compassion over you
He feels your pain with you
Be hopeful that He not only has compassion for you but that He has already done everything to fix it
We might not even have everything “fixed” or “resolved” like we want, but this isn’t the end
The Bible shows us that heaven will be a beautiful place because we will be reunited with Him and our loved ones 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
He keeps our tears in a jar Psalms 56:8-9
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me.
He will wipe away every tear from our eyes Revelation 21:4
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.