“Jesus Had Compassion on Her”
A Meditation for Linda Metcalfe Memorial Service
Luke 7:11-17
September 9, 2017 • Download this sermon (PDF) • Download Memorial Service Program (PDF)
In a 1789 letter, Ben Franklin, one of our founding fathers, wrote, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
How true for Americans, and for all people (unless there’s such a country without taxes). It is so certain that the Bible talks about death a lot. Most of us are familiar with the saying, “a time to be born, and a time to die.” Well, that saying is not originally from the song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds, but a Biblical saying from Ecclesiastes 3:2. Death is an event that we all avoid talking about. And when we talk about it, we sugarcoat it with words like, “She’s with God now,” or “She’s in a better place.” When we passed on the sad news about Linda, we didn’t even say, “Linda has died.” Instead, we said, “Linda has passed away.”
Death is also a fearful thing. From the day that Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, death entered the world (Rom 5:12). Every single human being who ever lived or who will live, will die. Except, of course, the Biblical characters Enoch (Gen 5:24) and Elijah (2 Kgs 2:1-12), who were taken away by God when they were still alive.
Why is it a fearful thing for most people? Because of the unknown; death is an unknown. No one knows what happens to a person who dies. Where does he go? Does he just cease to exist? Some people say, “When I die, that’s it. All the bad things that happened to me will end.” Some people will put a brave face on and say, “I don’t care what happens after death. It doesn’t matter to me. When I die, I die. So be it.”
Death is also a time for grieving and mourning. We can sugarcoat death all we want. We can hide our sorrow all we want. But it doesn’t go away. It will hurt until it’s our turn to die, and we remember our loved ones who have died, until it’s our turn to die. And we all know that.
But our Bible readings on this occasion give us a different view of death. The Bible gives us comfort in our time of grief. It also gives us hope. What comfort and hope? Our reading from the Heidelberg Catechism asks this question: “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” And the answer is: Jesus Christ alone! A Christian belongs to him in life and in death, body and soul. And it is a comfort to him that Christ’s death on the cross paid for all his sins.
Jesus gives us comfort in life and in death. In Luke 7:11-17, we read of how he comforted a widow who’s only son has died. We must note four things from this text.
First, this widow was grieving and mourning. Very often, we try to comfort the family and friends of a Christian who has died by saying, “Why grieve? She’s now with Jesus. She’s in a better place.” This may all be true, but it doesn’t take away the grief. It may comfort the grieving, but it doesn’t remove the sorrow. The one who died will be missed by the ones who were left behind until they too die. Let those who mourn, mourn. And mourn with them in this time of mourning.
The woman was not only grieving because of the death of her son. She was also in a desperate situation. There is no one else left to support her. No husband, no son, maybe no father anymore. She will be destitute if no one else comes to her aid.
Second, note that Jesus “had compassion on her.” As the funeral procession was leaving the gate of the town, Jesus arrives with his disciples. When he saw the widow, he comes to her aid to comfort her, because he had compassion on her. Jesus has a compassionate heart. When he saw that 5,000 people who were him for three days were hungry, he fed them to their full satisfaction.
He sympathizes with all our heartaches and sorrows and sufferings. How can he sympathize with our feelings? He can, because he too suffered all that we suffer in this world, and more, when he was on earth (Heb 4:15). He suffered all the way to his death on the cross to pay for the sins of all who would believe in him as Savior and Lord. Just as Jesus did, Christians are to give help and compassion to widows in their time of need. Therefore, if we say we are followers of Jesus, if we say we believe and trust in him as our God and Savior, then we too must show compassion to those who mourn, those who are in need, those who are desperate.
Then he says to the widow, “Do not weep.” Was he saying to the woman what some people today say to Christians who grieve over the death of a loved one? No, he said this because he knew that the woman would stop grieving after he performs a miracle.
So third, note that Jesus raised the widow’s son from the dead. How did he do this? Did he say a mantra, or magic words? Did he perform it as a spectacle for the whole world to see on TV? Did he speak in tongues? No, he merely touched the coffin, and simply said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
How could the dead man possibly hear Jesus’ command? He was stone cold dead! If he set off a bomb next to the young man, he will never hear. He was dead, period. So then, how did he hear Jesus’ voice, sat up, and started talking to him? The answer is obvious. Jesus awakened him first. He gave him life, new life. The Life-Giving Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, awakened his body and soul. Then, he awoke from his death, and heard Jesus’ command to rise from the coffin!
This is a picture of how anyone, including you, is saved by God. The Bible tells us that all who don’t believe and trust in God and Jesus are dead in sin (Eph 2:1; Rom 3:10-11), and don’t have the Holy Spirit in them. They are walking dead. When God saves you, he gives you a new heart and mind, a new life, even the Holy Spirit, because you are dead in sin (Ezk 36:26-27). It was not of your own will or doing, for how can you give yourself life? Only God can. The Bible also tells us that salvation from sin and death is like being “born again” (John 3:3). Can you give birth to yourself? No, only God can.
Fourth and last, the people who witnessed this miracle feared and glorified God. How can they not? No creature in this world can raise anyone from the dead. Only God can. The widow stopped weeping. All the other mourners stopped mourning. The time for weeping ended, the time for laughing started. The time to mourn ended, the time to dance started (Ecc 3:4). They also “feared” God, the kind of fear that respects, honor and obeys God.
Ruby, Kenny, Steve and Donna, David and Sandy, Carol, April and Bob, and all other family and friends: do you mourn Linda without hope? If you do, fear God, repent of your sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, and you will have hope and comfort as you mourn.
What is this comfort? This comfort is that, as Jesus was raised from the dead, he himself promises you of resurrection and eternal life in heaven with God and him if you believe.
