One Day in Nain

Introduction

Today being Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we will pause in our series "Rooted and Built Up in Jesus."

We will still be dealing with the life of Jesus and more specifically the death and resurrection of Jesus, but thus far we have gone through the life of Jesus chronologically. (Chronologically of course to us. For with Christ there is no such thing, as he is outside of time.)

The LORD spoke to my heart the other day as I was reading His Word and meditating on what He would have me preach this morning, and this is where He led me.

The title of this message is “One Day in Nain". It began as any other day but it ended up a day like no other.

The first thing that we’ll examine is “A Sorrowful Situation”

I. A Sorrowful Situation

Death

As Jesus approached the city, he ran into a funeral procession.

We don't experience this like they used to. (Ill) Occasionally as you drive down the road, we'll see the car with their lights on and then another and another. If we show respect we turn our lights on and stop as they pass by, understanding that the grief of delaying our travels for a minute or two is far less than what they are experiencing.

There was a man that was dead.

We're told very little about Jesus' funeral procession. All that is said is in Luke 23:53–55 “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.”

It's amazing that the God of Heaven's funeral procession was much smaller than this man's from Nain, and those we witness today.

But I'm going to speak for a few moments of the dead who have no funeral procession. There are those who are dead that no one notices. In fact there may be some among us right now.

They live and they breathe and they look like you and me but they are dead nonetheless.

I am speaking of those who are spiritually dead. Paul, speaking to the church in Colossae, said this. Colossians 2:13 “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”

Paul said ‘You were dead’!

There’s a reason Jesus said John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Death is a Sorrowful Situation - for all involved. Whether that be a physical death or Spiritual - for along with death comes despair

Despair

Despair (def) Hopelessness; a hopeless state; a destitution of hope or expectation.

Despair is that feeling you get when you realize the truth of a situation - and there’s nothing you can do.

The women there at the tomb of Christ, were in despair, for they felt as if there was no hope - their Saviour was dead.

The sad thing about Spiritual death is that those who experience typically don’t feel it. THEY DON’T FEEL IT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE DEAD! They go about not understanding the true state they are in.

Those that oftentimes feel the despair are the ones left living around them.

(Ill.) for 26 years Since we got saved we have prayed for our family to come to know the Lord. I doubt there's a day gone by in the last 26 years that we have not prayed for Bo. While he goes around not understanding his condition, we oftentimes feel the despair that accompanies death.

This mother was in despair because of the death of her son.

We see a Sorrowful Situation

II. A Saviour

But things are about to change - do you know why? Because Jesus is entering the picture.

Things always change when Jesus passes by!

What do we notice about this Saviour

Available (v11)

Make no mistake - Jesus did not just ‘happen by’ this town called Nain, and his schedule interrupted by this funeral procession… Jesus ‘went to the city’.

Altruistic (v13)

Altruistic (def) selfless concern for the welfare of others

The Bible describes this as ‘Compassionate’. (def) A suffering with another; painful sympathy; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity

Jesus had compassion.

1 John 3:16 “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:…”

Christ has a heart for the hurting - He Loves you and I

Some might say or even feel at times as though Christ doesn’t love them, but that simply is not true. Christ loves you, for He created you - and did so for a purpose.

He’s been where you’re at

He’s felt what you’ve felt

He’s hurt like you’ve hurt

You’ve not experienced anything that Christ Himself has not experienced… even the shame of sin.

(Ill.) How many of us have sinned & ‘missed the mark’? How many of us afterwards bore the shame of that sin? Christ even felt that! You ask “How”? Because when He was on that Cross, He BORE your sin! He WORE your shame!

He is Altruistic - He has Compassion for you and I, for He’s been where we’ve been!

Able

(Ill.) I as your pastor have hurt when you’ve hurt. Oftentimes I’ve suffered with you, bearing your burdens in my heart and mind… but alas, my ability rests in calling upon the Able One. That’s the extent that I can do.

Jesus on the other hand is entirely different! Jesus not only has compassion upon us and hurts with us - HE HAS THE ABILITY TO HELP US, FOR HE IS ABLE!

It's one thing to care, it's another thing to be in control.

My LORD is Able

We see a Sorrowful Situation; A Saviour

III. A Salvation

Next we see a salvation.

A Resurrection (v14-15a)

The dead was brought back to life.

It's one thing to recognize that he, which was dead, sat up but we need to back up and give praise unto the one that made it possible! Jesus Christ!

Jesus reached out to the dead, then

Jesus spoke to the dead

It was then, and only then when the dead came back to life!

Testimony - (Ill.) It’s been 26 years ago now, but church I remember when Jesus reached out for me! I remember hearing the voice of the Master! I remember the conviction of the Spirit when this poor soul realized the gravity of my sins and turned unto Jesus for Salvation.

Let me tell you this: On Red Oak Dr. 26 years ago, there was a dead man that rose to new life!

We see a Resurrection - but just as important is the Response

The Response (v15b)

What did this young man do when he rose from death? He began to speak.

I highlighted the importance of this during our sunrise service: that once we come to new life by faith in Christ, it should prompt us to tell others.

A salvation that is silent is skeptical.

Salvation that does not produce fruit cannot be trusted.

James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Many people get this scripture twisted. James is not advocating a works salvation. He is advocating a salvation that works. Proof of faith.

We see his response.

A Reunion (v15c)

Jesus delivered him to his mother.

She was of the living yet he was of the dead but when he was resurrected they were reunited.

(Ill.) Since my mom went to be with the LORD at the end of February, I’ve spoken with several people about her passing. Usually they offer condolences, then I tell them about May 5, 2019. It was that day when Mom and Dad came to visit the church and after I'd preached a message I knelt down behind the pulpit And closed my eyes and I felt a hand on my knee. When I looked up, it was my mama.

Hey that Sunday morning, the DEAD CAME FORTH UNTO LIFE, AND THERE WAS A REUNION

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT BECAUSE OF THAT MORNING, WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER REUNION UP IN GLORY!

We see a Reunion

Repercussions (v16)

But the story doesn't stop there. We see the aftereffects of that dead man coming to life.

Fear Fell

They saw something supernatural and it shook them.

There’s one thing that's missing in the church today, and that is the fear of the Lord. Despite how much we’re instructed in the Scripture, men either trivialize it or make excuse for it - BUT SELDOM OBEY IT!

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.”

Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: And his children shall have a place of refuge.”

Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, To depart from the snares of death.”

Proverbs 15:16 “Better is little with the fear of the Lord Than great treasure and trouble therewith.”

Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, and honour, and life.”

Proverbs 23:17 “Let not thine heart envy sinners: But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.”

The reason fear fell on them was because they understood that what they saw was the work of God.

Church we better get our heart right and understand that the same God that rose the dead one day in Nain is the same God that raised you and I and the same God we're going to answer to one day!

The Fear Fell

God was Glorified

This is the natural reaction when something miraculous like this happens. God is glorified.

Jesus was Recognized

Jesus - the Author & Finisher of our faith was recognized as the cause.

I don't know about you but I'm tired of hearing the name of my Lord used in vain.

I'm tired of the name of Jesus being used as a byword.

The name of Jesus is special!

Philippians 2:5–11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There’s going to come a day when you’ll not hear the name of Jesus used in any way other than with complete Reverence!

When this man was brought to life, the name of Jesus was lifted up - as it should always be!

We see a Sorrowful Situation, A Saviour, A Salvation - lastly I want to focus on a Simile

IV. A Simile

This is a picture of what we celebrate today - the Resurrection of Jesus

Our Saviour was Crucified

Two thousand years ago, Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

When he was about thirty he was baptized by John in the Jordan, beginning his ministry.

He would do great acts, such as what we have seen here today

But three and a half years later the hand that reached up for this young man would be nailed to a tree.

He would hang there for three hours while they mocked him and then darkness would fall at about noon and it would stay dark across the land for the next three hours.

At the conclusion our Savior, as he hung there, would cry out, "It is finished," and would give up the ghost.

A man by the name of Joseph and another named Nicodemus would take down the body of Christ and lay it in a new tomb where no man had lain.

One day would pass. The feast day. The beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and all the Pharisees would celebrate with their dead religiosity while the Savior who came unto them would lie in that tomb.

Two more days would pass.

Our Saviour was Crucified - but church, our Saviour Conquered!

Our Saviour Conquered

The Tomb that had never held a dead man before couldn’t hold this one! For early that Sunday morn, the stone was rolled away - and that man that WAS dead, WAS NOW ALIVE - AND CHURCH HE LIVES EVERMORE!

Jesus conquered death, and is alive today!

But lastly, this same Jesus offers us a cleansing

Our Saviour Offers a Cleansing

I remember when Jesus cleansed me - the day I was born again and that which was dead came to life.

What He did for me, He’s willing to do for all!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

You can be cleansed today - washed clean by the blood of Christ

Will today be your Resurrection day?

Conclusion

I presented this as "One Day in Nain." This story happened 2,000 years ago - but happened to me 26 years ago - and can happen to you today.

This woman when Jesus first came on the scene, she Would have had no idea just exactly what Jesus would do. She probably had not a clue what Jesus was able to do but I want you to know that if you put your trust in Him, He will do far more with your life than you ever could have possibly realized.