death interrupted

from my sermon on June 6, 2010 from Luke 7:11-17

It was over. There was nothing more anyone could do. She was alone. Her son had died. Your children are not supposed to precede you in death. Some of you know this pain. Her son, the words are literally like John 3:16, her "only begotten son" had died. Is there anything worse?

It gets worse with the next phrase. There were 3 groups of people the faithful Hebrews were supposed to show special attention to: the widow, the orphan, the stranger in the land. She is number one on the list; she is a widow. Can it get any worse?

It does. There is a crowd around her. There is a crowd around Jesus. But is there anyone for her? This is the deepest loneliness, surrounded by people, none knowing what you are going through. Some of you know this loneliness.

Then Jesus saw her. He had compassion for her. I want you to hold this phrase for just a moment, because it doesn't seem to jibe with what happens next.

Jesus says to the woman, "Do not weep." In basis pastoral care and counseling, you learn never to do this--to tell someone who is grieving what to feel and what to do. You learn that everyone grieves differently. There is no orderly progression of stages, no timeline to follow. You don't day to people, "Don't be sad, don't be mad, don't be ...." You let people grieve the way they need to grieve and you go along with them. How can Jesus get away with saying, "Do not weep."

First, remember that Jesus had compassion for her. That word compassion is not all that common in the NT but Jesus feels that word several times for different people. It literally means, my guts go out to you, my heart is with your heart, I feel in my insides what you are feeling. Out of all the crowd, Jesus feels for the woman.

Second, Jesus is the Lord of life and death. He touches the bier. You have seen the pictures on TV of deaths in the Middle East, of bodies being carried in a shroud through the throngs. No casket, just a pallet supported by hands. Jesus stops them and touches the bier. He says just 4 words in Greek, a few more in English, "Young man, I say to you, Rise." And the young man does, just like that. As proof that he is alive, he sits up and begins to speak.

Now, I am a rational person with a degree in math and minor in physics. You want an explanation and I can't give you one for this miracle. All I know is that this is not an isolated event in our Bible. The gospel story has many examples of Jesus interrupting death. This is a part of our witness as Christians. Jesus is Lord over life and death. Do you believe this?

I had confirmation that Jesus interrupts death from a most unusual place this past week. You see I went to Annual Conference, a meeting of some 1,200 delegates from 350 churches representing some 120,000 Methodists over 78 counties in Southwest Texas. Out of all the reports and Robert's Rules of Order I heard witness to Jesus.

Harry Kahl told the story of the time he worked at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, our school for mainly kids from Mexico, to help them break the cycle of poverty. You are not going to believe this, but a high school kid acted out, I don't remember the incident. Harry as principal called an assembly and said the school picnic was called off until someone stepped forward to take responsibility. Fernando came forward. Harry let the picnic happen. He said to Fernando, "That's it. It's over. You're gone." Fernando pleaded, "Just give me one more chance." Harry said, "I have to talk with your parents." "They are deep in Mexico." "Someone then." "My aunt." "OK." Harry talked with her and said that Fernando was through. He begged, "Just one more chance." Harry granted it. Fernando became a model student. He graduated from LPI, went on to college. Harry performed his marriage. Harry baptized his kids. Harry always hoped that Fernando would enter the ministry. He didn't. He came back to work at LPI, to help kids just like himself. Now is son is graduating from LPI.....and is intending to go into the UM ministry! Is it over? Jesus says, "Rise."

Hyde Park UMC just celebrated 100 years of ministry...and this past Sunday closed its doors. Is it over? Not quite.....Trinity UMC has outgrown its facilities and will be moving into the old site at Hyde Park. What will happen to the old Trinity site? A school for gifted and talented students in the arts is prepared to take over that campus. Is it over? No, hear Jesus say, "Rise."

Malaria is supposed to be the death knell for many people in Africa, but is it over for them? These crazy Methodists have said that they want to rid the continent of Africa of this preventable disease by 2015! And we are doing it with bed nets, serum, communication, etc. You know about this because you have been part of the pilot group. This congregation has committed some $50,000 to Imagine No Malaria. Our Southwest Texas Conference has pledged more than $2 million! Is it over? No, hear Jesus say, "Rise."

Now the boy who was raised would die again, but his resuscitation is a sign that he will be raised again forever someday, just like this meal we share at this table is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet that we will enjoy when we are raised in the resurrection. Jesus interrupts death as a sign that we will be his in life, in death, in life beyond death.

To condense this message down to a short phrase, I quote one of my favorite theologians, Gracie Allen, who said, "Never put a period where God has placed a comma."

The people are in awe. They call Jesus a prophet. He is more than that, he is Lord. They that he has blessed his people. He has. They witness to him. So do we. It's not over. Hear Jesus say, "Rise." That is the good news I have for you today.