최중현 교수(롬한인장로교회) 영어설교- Moved With Compassion(Luke 7:11-17)

Moved With Compassion 

(Luke 7:11-17)

1. Every living things cannot live again once they die.

(1) However, in today’s text, the dead have come back to life.

If you look at the public life of the Lord, there are as many as three cases in which the dead came back to life. Who is it? First, in Luke 8, the daughter of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, was brought back to life, and in John 11, Lazarus was brought back to life, and the third is the son of the widow in today’s text.

(2) Today’s text is about the well-known widow’s son’s resurrection.

So, if you look at the main text, the author is emphasizing that he raised the dead.

Let’s look at verse 11 together. At the beginning of the main text, the author emphasized [after that]. That’s right. The incident in the main text is that the last time the centurion was related to the healing of the servant. So what is it?

1) Looking at the last message, the main issue was the Lord’s healing for the [dead]. But today’s text is that he raised the dead.

2) Last time, the centurion begged to heal his servant because he knew the power of the Lord, but today the widow of Nain did not know the Lord and therefore did not even ask the Lord, but the Lord volunteered to raise the dead.

3) So, in the case of the centurion, the Lord emphasized faith, but in today’s text, the word [faith] does not come out.

4) Then what is more important than faith?

(3) So today, I want us to think about [God’s mercy].

2. First, let’s look at why the Lord saved the widow’s son.

(1) First, if you look at verse 13, the Lord [had pity...] the author notes. At that time, the castle of Nain was a small castle with a poor and insignificant population of about 200 people, 40 kilometers away from Capernaum. However, if there was a widow raising her son in such a poor neighborhood, what would be the pleasure of this woman? So [Nain], which means joy, is emphasized. But what pleasure will there be any more to this widow when her son dies? So, the original text of verse 13 [Do not cry] uses [klaio] as if [the intestines are broken]. The content of today’s text is that when the Lord placed his hand on the coffin and said, “Young man, get up,” the dead young man sat up and spoke.

(2) Yes. Today’s topic is the Lord’s mercy.

What is mercy? It is [pity] that today the Lord has pity on this widow without any conditions. So, the author translated the original text in verse 12 [When he came close to the gate... “Look”]. That’s right. The author says that the reason why the Lord came to Nain is that He came to raise only one young man from the dead. So he put his hand on the coffin and called out, young man, to get up. Looking at the Jewish funeral culture at the time, the body could not be kept for a long time due to corruption, so the body was wrapped in a long linen cloth soaked in pine resin with spices and placed on a board in a cave tomb outside the city. So, if you look at the contents of the text, you can know how great the shock was in a state where the widow’s son died not long ago. That is why the Lord’s heart went out to this widow, and the widow’s weeping moved the Lord’s heart. That’s right. If you show pity to the Lord, everything will be prosperous. That’s why the Lord raised the dead without asking about faith and even though there was no request.

(3) What is the Lord’s power?

That is, it is the Lord who raises even the dead. Do you believe it too? So, I pray that we all believe in the Lord’s power and receive the Lord's mercy.

3. Then what is the lesson that the author Luke wants to say in today’s text?

(1) That is to know that we also received the Lord’s mercy.

Speaking of mercy in Ephesians 2:8, Paul said: [For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this does not come from you; it is the gift of God]. Yes. The free grace of God is what we have received it too. Why did you receive this grace? That is the Lord’s mercy. So today, I believe that we have become God’s children because the Lord’s mercy [had pity] on all of us today. So how grateful are you?

(2) The sovereignty of all life belongs to only one Lord.

So, I believe that if the Lord touches the coffin, all problems will be resolved. Then, what is your view of reality now? Please hold on to the hand of the Lord. Please meet the Lord. [He Touch me] – Hymn.

(3) Finally, today’s author emphasized that the Lord is the coming Messiah and the great prophet. At that time, Nain Castle had a historical pride. That is, the event of [2 Kings 4] took place in this castle of Nain.

Once upon a time, there was a place called [Shunem] in the Near East of Nain. But there was the widow who was given a son, and the son died. Then Elisha performed a miracle and saved the son. That’s why in Luke 7:16, the people are surprised [that a great prophet has arisen]. That’s right. The Lord is the coming Messiah who is greater than the prophets. That is why the Lord performed a miracle in the castle of Nain.

[Conclusion]

Who can overcome death? There is only one person, Jesus Christ. So, let’s believe that even the dead will come to life when the Lord sees [pity in them]. Let’s believe that castle of Nain will become the true Nain of [joy, hope, and pleasure], not [disease, pain, weakness, poverty, hard work, and difficulties].

The Lord loves us all. He is with you at this time today. Please meet the Lord. And may his hand hold you. Let’s believe that our lives will happen as the Lord’s command in today’s text.

 

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