1st Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 146
Prayer to start
May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
AMEN
Introduction
f you asked most Christians – who Jesus raised to life – the most likely answer you would get is Lazarus –
Everybody remembers – the great faith of Mary and Martha – his miraculous emergence after 3 days in a tomb – and Jesus’ call to the onlookers – ‘to loose Him – Let Him go’
But here in today’s Gospel reading – we have another miraculous resurrection – but this time – without much of a fanfare or comment – and according to the text – without much faith – from the boy’s mother –
The whole incident is described in six verses –
So – how significant is this miracle – and what about the importance of faith?
Lets see if our readings can help us answer these questions
Point 1 Elijah and the Widow
Our OT reading involves Elijah and the widow at Zanapheth –
Elijah – was one of the most colourful characters in the OT – used by God at a time when Spirituality was at an all time low – He was God’s prophet – to the northern tribes – during the reign of King Ahab – who had the distinction of ‘doing more evil in the eyes of God than any other king before him’ –
The country was experiencing a severe drought – and the King – blamed Elijah – for it – and wanted him dead –
It was while Elijah was running for his life – that he was sent by God – to the widow – who with God’s help – would make sure – he had ample food to survive the drought –
Everything was going well – they – had every expectation of surviving – as expected – but then tragedy strikes – and the widow’s son dies – it must have turned into the darkest day of her life – her whole future rested on her son –
She turned on Elijah – And accused him – with his connection with God – for her problems –
‘What made you interfere – you man of God – you came here to bring my sins to light – and caused my sons death!’
She believed – as they often did in OT times – that death and sickness – was a punishment – for some past – or hidden sin – that has now been brought to light –
Whenever something bad happens – even though we know – God is right there helping us through our rough spots – like the widow – instead of appreciating Him – we sometimes – blame Him for what has happened –
first the widow had given up her food for him- now it seems she would have to give up her son –
Its at darkest moments – that – God’s light shines the brightest –
Elijah – took the problem – straight to God –
And – through His grace – the boy lived and was raised from the dead
The woman said to Elijah – ‘Now I know – for certain – that you are a man of God – and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is true –
This is a story of increasing faith –
When we pass through tough times – when a loved one dies – its never – a form of punishment – but in such situations we experience the full force of God’s love – and this brings us – closer to Him – which is what happened to our widow in this story
And – its only when we come to the end of our own resources – and we have used up – what resistance we have – that we begin to recognize our great need for God –
This is the first resurrection example in the OT – and it shows the immense power of – prayer
Responding to tragedy – in faith brings growth – Responding to tragedy with prayer – brings results
Responding to tragedy – through Jesus provides us with a new beginning –
Which leads us on to our NT lesson and the experience of Paul and the Galatian church –
Point 2 Paul and the Galatians
In her early term as Prime Minister – Margaret Thatcher – made a proud boast that was to become a trademark catchphrase – ‘The Lady is not for Turning’ –
Whether at the time – this was a sign of strength – or weakness – is a matter of debate –
There are times however – when we all need to listen to others – explore other avenues – or even change direction altogether –
That was certainly the case for Paul –
Through his dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road – Paul came to realize – that despite his persecution of the church – God’s grace was still at work in his life –
and although he started – to climb the wrong ladder – he had been brought back to the right one – by Jesus – who called Him to preach to the gentiles –
Our first steps – are important – and exiting – whether its those first steps walking – riding a bicycle – or learning to read or starting a new job
And when – we take our first steps – with Jesus – He will lead us – on – to the long walk of obedience to Him – and His Gospel
\The world may judge us about our past – but God sees us as what we can be transformed into –by His love – and His son and His Spirit –
Conversion to faith – for us – may have been a far less dramatic – experience than it was for Paul – but nonetheless – there is a real need for change -for us all – the need to turn our backs on our old self – and embrace the new –
As with Paul its not just about moving away from our former ways – its also about moving towards Christ –
It takes courage to accept that all is not as it should be – and to commit ourselves to a lifetime of discipleship – and it takes more courage still – having made those initial steps – to recognize that the job is far from finished – and only just begun –
Some of us – like Paul – respond to lessons that stop us in out toes – and stir our hearts to a higher level of commitment to Jesus –
But others – like the widow in our gospel reading – show little outward faith at all –
Point 3 Jesus and the funeral at Nain
Our Gospel reading takes us in to one of the four funeral scenes in the NT –
This one is about the funeral of a young man from Nain – a small village 20 miles south of Capernaum – where Jesus had just preached to the crowds the day before –
Lets imagine – that we are in that funeral party –
It’s a hot day – the professional mourners are there – and the wailers – making plenty of noise – so that the friends and relatives – and especially the mother – can cry – their hearts out without embarrassment –
And – the people to anoint the body – and ready to wrap him up in the grave clothes – are walking with us also –
We make our way through the streets – to the town gate –
This death has touched everyone – the family plot is a little way out of town – in a small cave beside the hill – her husband and father – had been buried there some time ago –
Then quite suddenly – some strangers arrive – a man leading a small group – of followers – he seems vaguely familiar – perhaps he grew up in a neighbouring village – He seems strangely stirred by what he sees – and comes up and talks to the widow – then to everyone’s surprise – He touches the bier (coffin) – nobody – except the official bearers – should touch the bier (coffin) – it would make them unclean –
Then the biggest shock of all – He’s telling the boy to get up —– and he’s getting up – the whole procession – is going wild with astonishment – delight and disbelief –
We don’t know who to look at – the no-longer dead boy – the ecstatic mother – or this stranger – who has done what the old prophets Elijah and Elisha used to do –
Is this – the prophet we have been waiting for? – is this the time when God has come near – to save and rescue us?
This story in Luke is about resurrection and healing – Jesus is the supreme source of life – and He has the power to turn things around – Jesus is using this funeral to signal a – new life and hope – to a hurting world –
Without even the presence of faith – Jesus gave this woman – back her son –
This reminds –us that although He loves to see signs of faith in us – Jesus isn’t always bound by them – and here He acts out of shear compassion – to do something – that nobody had imagined He would or could do –
In this story – the only person who has faith that the dead man can be raised – is Jesus Himself –
In Rudyard Kipling’s – the jungle book – Mowgli – the man cub – asks the animals – what’s the most feared thing in the jungle – he is told that when two animals meet on a narrow path – one must step aside to let the other pass – the animal that steps aside for no-one – would then be the most feared –
First he was told it was an elephant – another told him it was a lion – but a wise old owl – explained – ‘The most feared thing in the jungle is death – it steps aside for no-one’
In our hearts we all know that we each must feel the sting of death – and with every tick of the second hand – it grows nearer –
Our loved ones die – our friends – our children – and in our Gospel reading we meet a woman – to whom death had dealt a double blow –
But even though death didn’t step aside for her – it stepped aside for Jesus –
Jesus cares – about our pain – and wants to help – and – there is no pain –or hurt that does not go unnoticed – Jesus has the power even over death – to bring hope to hopeless situations –
We don’t have to be firm in faith or behave in a certain way to receive His help – We just need to trust in His amazing power – and love-
Conclusions
The resurrection at Nain – like the resurrection of Lazarus – points us to the coming death and resurrection of Jesus – and His offer of eternal life and saving love –
It also shows us what this life looks like on the ground – God’s love – going out in new and unexpected – healing ways –
Like Elijah before him – Jesus is seen as the new prophet of God – and more than that – the promised Messiah who has brought God ’s saving grace – into our world –
Our faith – important as it is – and as it grows – is not the measure by which Jesus gives life – that rests solely with Jesus – the one who can say –
‘I am the resurrection and the Life’
Prayer to finish
In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
AMEN