In Our Sorrow 10.22.23

 In Our Sorrow en nuestro dolor (Luke 7:11-17) Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up." Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, A mighty prophet has risen among us, and God has visited his people today. And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside. Introduction: Our human hearts have never learned how to accommodate death. We try with flowers, food, hugs and memories but we struggle. If our loved one dies suddenly (car accident) we feel cheated that we did not have more time. If they suffer and linger long, we wonder if it would have been better had they not suffered so much. Humans may be the only species fully aware of the inevitability of death. (Ross Pomeroy) Los humanos pueden ser la única especie plenamente consciente de la inevitabilidad de la muerte. (Ross Pomeroy) I've done my share of funerals and I've stood in a number of roles when dealing with death. No one does it perfectly. I think the reason may be that God made us to be eternal beings. It was never God's plan for us to die or deal with death. Death came to humanity because of the sin that was committed in the Garden of Eden. When sin was introduced then death became the inevitable consequence of sin. (Ezekiel 18:4) the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (James 1:14-15) But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (Ezequiel 18:4) el alma que pecare, esa morirá. (Santiago 1:14-15) Pero cada uno es tentado cuando se deja llevar y seducido por su propia concupiscencia. Luego, cuando la concupiscencia ha concebido, da a luz el pecado; y cuando el pecado se comete, produce la muerte. Why does death scare us? * We are afraid of extinction (life being over). * We are afraid of the anticipated suffering of dying - the pain, the disability. * We are afraid of leaving loved ones and friends behind. * We are afraid of leaving things unfinished. * We are afraid of not having a legacy. (Cara St. Marie) ¿Por qué nos asusta la muerte? • Tenemos miedo a la extinción (el fin de la vida). • Tenemos miedo del sufrimiento anticipado de la muerte: el dolor, la discapacidad. • Tenemos miedo de dejar atrás a nuestros seres queridos y amigos. • Tenemos miedo de dejar las cosas sin terminar. • Tenemos miedo de no dejar un legado. (Cara Santa María) One of the reasons Jesus went to Calvary was so that the fear of death could be taken away for the believer. The power of sin to bring death was broken at Calvary, and all obstacles to our attaining true eternal life were entirely removed. To be absent from this life is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) We've used the metaphor of an intersection in this series to highlight how Jesus finds us in the challenges of this life. This story is another one of those intersections... Nain is a small town that would not necessarily have been on the way of a typical traveler from Jerusalem to Galilee so there is some intentionality to the story we read. Much like the woman of Samaria in John 4, Jesus seems to have been in Nain ON PURPOSE. I mention this because it is important to trust that He knows where you are, what you are facing and He is present with you. Perhaps you have known sorrow. Perhaps you are sorrowful today in some capacity. Perhaps you are struggling in your sorrow. Look for Him...He's coming to you today. The Death Was Likely Unexpected (v.12)...The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. La muerte probablemente fue inesperada (v.12)...El joven que había muerto era el único hijo de una viuda, y una gran multitud del pueblo estaba con ella. We don't usually expect "young men" to die. They do and it is always hard to accept. We've had several funerals this year in this building where young men have died unexpectedly...tragic. This Wasn't The Mother's First Trip To A Cemetery (v.12)...The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. Este no fue el primer viaje de la madre a un cementerio (v.12)...El joven que había muerto era el único hijo de una viuda, y una gran multitud del pueblo estaba con ella. By calling her a "widow" we can safely assume this was not her first trip to the cemetery. She's been here before. There is an accumulation of grief that can smother you. When her husband died, "at least she had her son"... Her Pain Caught Jesus' Attention (v.13)...When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. Su dolor llamó la atención de Jesús (v.13)...Cuando el Señor la vio, su corazón se desbordó de compasión. He always does. (Hebrews 4:16-18) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebreos 4:16-18) Por tanto, teniendo un gran sumo sacerdote que traspasó los cielos, Jesús el Hijo de Dios, retengamos nuestra profesión. Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras debilidades; sino que fue tentado en todo según nuestra semejanza, pero sin pecado. Por tanto, acerquémonos con valentía al trono de la gracia, para obtener misericordia y encontrar gracia para ayudar en momentos de necesidad. The word "compassion" means to suffer with * Jesus saw her-He was looking at her situation, whether he knew the details or not, we are not told but he saw her sorrow and understood her plight. * Jesus felt something for her-this is compassion to see and feel for another. His Response Was Not Conventional (v.14)...Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up." Su respuesta no fue convencional (v.14)... Luego se acercó al ataúd y lo tocó, y los portadores se detuvieron. "Joven", dijo, "te digo, levántate". It's one thing to see and feel something-it's another thing to do something about it. Where does your compassion moving you to action? (v.15)...Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. ...the dead boy sat up and began to talk! We serve a God who does amazing things. * Things that are dead come back to life again. * Things that are broken are mended. * Things that are lost are found. Conclusion: (v.15)...Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. (v.15)... ¡Entonces el niño muerto se sentó y comenzó a hablar! Y Jesús se lo devolvió a su madre. Jesus came to give us back what the enemy took away in the Garden. What has the enemy stolen from you? What do you need to have restored in your life? * Peace * Relationships God I'm a sinner I'm sorry for my sins I believe Jesus died for my sins I believe Jesus will forgive my sins I choose Jesus Dios soy un pecador Lo siento por mis pecados Creo que Jesús murió por mis pecados. Creo que Jesús perdonará mis pecados. elijo a jesus