St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church
Sermon by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz
Father’s Day June 17, 2007
Pentecost 3 Luke 7:11-17


Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.


People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

We went to a wedding the other day—a very wonderful wedding—the wedding of the first baby I ever baptized at my first church, Peace, Loves Park, Illinois. The bride—Nicole is a professional artist and designer. She married a young man—an architect named Mayukh Mitra—from Calcutta, India. Everything was especially beautiful. There were centerpieces of flowers. Not the kinds of flowers we are used to—all shooting up and out of a vase. These flowers were in rings of color—red and royal blue and bright yellow—with tall green plants shooting up—kind of like giant stalks of celery—only more beautiful—and then hanging down—plants kind of like strings of parsley—only more beautiful, too. They were flowers like you’ve never seen before. The bride’s dress was not from a magazine or catalog. She designed it herself—and she wore a necklace that had like 13 beautiful diamonds--by the fastener in the back. The bride designed the dresses for her attendants and they were exceptionally beautiful, too. At the reception there were people carrying around trays of snacks—hot and cold—little pieces of toast with tiny little pieces of salmon neatly folded. The meal was served New York style. That means for 15 to 20 minutes between courses—people got up and danced to the live orchestra and singers. In some ways it was the most wondrous wedding feast we have been to. And yet it was tinged with sadness. The brother of the bride Daniel—wasn’t there. He has already gone to heaven. And you couldn’t help but think about him. Just imagine when we are at the forever wedding feast in heaven. There will be no sadness—no heartache—no tears in the midst of celebration for the loved ones that couldn’t be there—because we will all be there at home in heaven. This Father’s Day we give thanks and praise to God--

God Has Come to Help His People

1. Jesus has power even over death

2. Jesus has come to forgive our sins

Luke chapter 6—Jesus taught his students, followers and imitators. Jesus taught them about blessings and woes. Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort… Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt…Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use—it will be measured to you. Jesus talked about a tree and its fruit. Jesus talked about the wise and the foolish builders. Remember Pastor Gartner’s TSL 8th grade graduation service sermon? What have we built our family life upon—rock or shifting sand? Luke chapter 7—last Sunday Prof. Ehlke preached about how Jesus heals the Roman Centurion’s servant—sick and about to die. Jesus heals him—without even going by him! That’s just part of the authority Jesus has.

Soon afterward—very likely—the next day— Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. If you go to the south of Capernaum in Galilee—on a slope of a mountain—towards the valley—you will find the little town of Nain. Nain means vale—valley of beauty. It was near Nain that two large groups moved toward each other. On the one hand—a funeral procession—people weeping and lamenting—the Israeli custom of people mourning and wailing—making quite a ruckus! On the other hand came a procession led by the Lord of Life—the Son of God—the Redeemer—the Lamb of God! At the head of the sad procession—a dead person being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow! It doesn’t say how this young man died. It doesn’t really matter does it? Sometimes people are very curious—exactly how—precisely why did someone die? There are all different circumstances that surround death. There was a man the other day—who drove his golf cart off a cliff. The cart fell—the very last moment the guy fell out of the cart—hit the ground and died. There was a guy in the Gaza Strip—that was shot—wounded—then pushed from a very high place. In revenge—a guy from the other side—was shot—wounded—then pushed from a very high place, too! There was a guy the other day—dropped his cell phone into a body of water. In a moment—he jumped into the water—after his phone. The problem was he didn’t know how to swim. The next thing you know—he’s trying to climb up a cement wall—all covered literally with pond scum—until he is exhausted—and slips under the water—losing his life—to try and save a cell phone—that was ruined and worthless the moment it slipped under the water? Out in California--Highway 138—highway construction—two sign men hit—one shot with a bb gun—because people are in such a hurry and are so frustrated—they are so angry that they have to slow down and merge! Who wakes up in the morning—thinking—actually thinking—today—this might be the day I die? Who wakes up in the morning—actually believing—this could be the day—today could be the day Jesus comes back on Judgment Day? It could!

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” Jesus cared for this woman. His heart went out to her. This is not a given! Imagine a woman who is deathly ill—actually bleeding—in the emergency room of a troubled inner-city hospital. There are people all around—trained medical people all around—but no one will help her. Finally—her relatives actually call 911 from the emergency room—to try and get someone to help their loved one. Finally the sheriff comes—puts this lady in a wheelchair—and arrests her for a parole violation. And then she dies! The chief doctor for the county says—“it’s important to understand that this is fundamentally a failure of caring.” It’s a matter of the heart! Medical people failed—if someone can be obviously bleeding—and no one does anything about it—except for a janitor who mops the blood from the floor! It is a matter of the heart—if relatives become so angry—they cry out for God—to strike down people who are not helping them. Human hearts fail all the time. People who think they are cut off on the highway—become so angry—they follow people—cursing and screaming and threatening them. That’s a matter of the heart too. Jesus’ heart—was pure and gentle. Jesus saw this widow’s heart ache—and he helped her. First he told her, “Don’t cry.” The reason for her sadness was about to go completely away.

Then he went up and touched the coffin/bier—the stretcher, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. In early New Testament times—when people died—they were washed clean one last time. Their bodies were anointed with sweet smelling spices—and then wrapped in soft strips of cloth. Jesus talked to the young man as if he was sleeping—sleeping in death—and woke him up. When the Lord of Life says—get up—immediately—without hesitation and without difficulty—you sit up and start talking. It’s not that your eyes flicker open—not that you choke and gasp for breath. It’s not like a seizure or a convulsion. He sat up and started talking. And Jesus gave him back to his mom! This Father’s Day—you have to believe—that after that--that mother and son wouldn’t waste time grumbling or arguing over foolish things that didn’t matter! They wouldn’t waste this second chance—being worried or upset about things that don’t really count! How is our family life? How are we getting along? Will we give our earthly Father cards full of maple syrup poetry about how he’s the greatest dad in the whole wide world? And then the rest of the year we grumble and complain to our friends—that our dad is hopelessly uninformed and ignorant and unreasonable and unfair? Do we love and respect and obey our father? Or do we argue and talk back and slam our bedroom door—and text message our friends about all that’s wrong with our father? Do fathers and mothers train up their children in the light of God’s Word? Are earthly fathers the spiritual head of their home—teaching their children by their powerful example to love Jesus more and more?

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” A great prophet has appeared among us. What does this mean? There are theologians who say the people didn’t understand or appreciate who Jesus was. They understand a great prophet to be a comparison to say—Elijah and Elisha. Both of them raised the only son of a widow from the dead. There are theologians who say the people saw a great miracle—yet failed to appreciate the Son of God—who by his own authority called the dead back to life. There are other theologians who say—the people did understand. That when they said a great prophet has appeared—they remembered the promise the LORD made through Moses in Deuteronomy—The LORD will raise up for them a prophet like me from among you, from your own people. You must listen to him…and again…I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. Deuteronomy 18:15f What do you think? When we think about people we read about in the Bible—do we put the best construction on everything? Do we take people’s words and actions in the kindest possible light? Do we remember we are not to judge people’s motives? We are not to judge people’s hearts—because we can’t see them. Maybe—instead of wondering what people thought 2,000 years ago—we need to ask our self—what do I think about Jesus? Do I think of him as a great prophet—a great teacher—a preacher to listen to on Sunday morning? Do I think of him as a great example of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control—but not much more? Do I think of him as a powerful example of being good and doing the right thing? Do I think of Jesus as someone good for women and children—good for little old ladies—keeping young people off of drugs and alcohol and premarital sex—but not much more? Jesus is the Son of God—the Redeemer of the world! Jesus is the Son of God—who was nailed to a tree—to save us from all our sins. Jesus is the Son of God—who colors every moment of every day—with the power of his grace and forgiveness.

This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. What is the final result? This makes all the difference in the world! During summer school at the Seminary—we read a short story by a man named Graham Greene. The short story is called The Second Death. It’s a make believe—imaginary story about the young man of Nain—about to die again. It’s a very clever play on words—the second death. The first death is physical. The second death is spiritual! The point of the make believe imaginary story is—what good was the miracle of bringing the young man of Nain back to life once—if only to postpone the second death—being lost eternally? Before doing my home work—reading that story—I guess I always assumed that people Jesus healed—all loved him—thanked him—believed in him—and were saved eternally. Upon closer reflection—that might be pretty naïve! Jesus healed 10 lepers—and only one came back to even say thank you! The essential question we need to ask our self is obvious. What will be the final outcome of our life? We who are baptized have come no less from death to life! We who are confirmed have been taught God’s Word—law and gospel—read the Scriptures again and again. We who have belonged to St. Luke’s for a lifetime—have knelt at the communion rail—hundreds and hundreds of times. We have said, “Come, Lord Jesus…” and “Now I lay me down to sleep…” and “Our Father who art in Heaven…” thousands of times! How eternally tragic—if we should have gone through all of that—and be lost in the end? We will not be lost—because God is faithful. We will not be lost because Jesus loves us so much—no one will snatch us out of his hands. Amen!


To God alone all glory!

Rev. Anthony E. Schultz