May 8, 2016 NOTES NOT EDITED
Super Mom
Luke 7:11-18
SIS-Trust in Jesus can fix even those problems a Super Mom cannot.
As we gather today we
want to accomplish two objectives. First
and foremost, we want to offer ourselves to God in worship through our Lord
Jesus Christ. We want to life up the
Name of Jesus and magnify His greatness.
Along with honoring God through Jesus Christ, we want to honor the
blessing of motherhood—or woman hood.
This is altogether appropriate for the greatest gift ever bestowed on
creation was a “woman,” whom God named Eve.
She is the mother of all mothers.
Without Eve Adam was incomplete.
As we think of “motherhood” and “womanhood,” especially as these are under assault in our culture, it is hard to speak of “motherhood” in any other terms than that of a “Super Hero.” Like Superman, mothers are faster in carpools to soccer games than a speeding bullet; able to tall mountains in a single bound to prevent a toddler’s spill; and more powerful than a locomotive when one of her own is in danger. Yes, mothers can scale skyscrapers with the speed and agility of Spiderman or bring the cumulative powers of the Avengers to bear upon any situation, but even mothers are not perfect.
We know that mothers are not perfect. Like all of us, mothers sometimes shout, and may have a much higher opinion of their meatloaf than others. Like all of us, mothers might spend too much time multi-tasking on smart phones while tending to matters at hand. Yet, mothers deserve the highest of respect and honor. This public service announcement by “Kid President” is humbly offered as a tribute to all the women and mothers of the world.
As we think of “motherhood” and “womanhood,” especially as these are under assault in our culture, it is hard to speak of “motherhood” in any other terms than that of a “Super Hero.” Like Superman, mothers are faster in carpools to soccer games than a speeding bullet; able to tall mountains in a single bound to prevent a toddler’s spill; and more powerful than a locomotive when one of her own is in danger. Yes, mothers can scale skyscrapers with the speed and agility of Spiderman or bring the cumulative powers of the Avengers to bear upon any situation, but even mothers are not perfect.
We know that mothers are not perfect. Like all of us, mothers sometimes shout, and may have a much higher opinion of their meatloaf than others. Like all of us, mothers might spend too much time multi-tasking on smart phones while tending to matters at hand. Yet, mothers deserve the highest of respect and honor. This public service announcement by “Kid President” is humbly offered as a tribute to all the women and mothers of the world.
I’m hesitant to offer
any suggestions in regard to mothers who are a near-perfect creation of
God. Yet, as we take an honest,
reality-based look at life we realize that mothers are really not “super
heroes.” Mothers really do not have
special “super powers” that can make all the bad things in life go away. Mothers, and Dads too, have to realize that
no matter how hard we try to protect our children from “bad situations,” we
cannot overcome all the evil in the world.
There will come situations even a mother cannot fix. It is precisely these points of hopelessness
that Jesus reveals He truly is a “super hero” and He really can fix any
situation we face as mothers or fathers, or simply as pilgrims pressing through
life’s frontier. Let’s read together a
text that demonstrates that Jesus can fix
even those situation a mother cannot. LUKE 7:11-18. We include verses 9-10 because Luke
grammatically connects our story with what has gone before, as is his custom in
his narrative to show that the power of God to do miracles was innate to Who
Jesus is, and not just an event in His earthly life.
9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.11 Soon afterward He was on His way to a town called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were traveling with Him. 12 Just as He neared the gate of the town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was also with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then He came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited His people.” 17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
There are four
conclusions we can draw in regard to the miraculous power of God manifested in
the life of the Mother of Nain. We can
draw conclusions about the problems we face in life, about the pity God shows
on His creation, about the power God can manifest in response to any situation
we face, and finally about the purpose for any and all interactions that God
has with us.
1. First, the PROBLEMS we face in life (v12)
The Widow of Nain had a problem. In fact she had many problems in life. First, she was a woman. That was a huge problem in the Roman world. Before the influence of Christianity, women were considered as little more than a piece of property. Second, she was a widow. Without a husband she had no “covering” in society. She had no benefactor or provider but had to scratch out a meager living any way she could. All of the economic and societal difficulties and challenges this widow faced paled in comparison to the issue that rises to the forefront of our text:
1. First, the PROBLEMS we face in life (v12)
The Widow of Nain had a problem. In fact she had many problems in life. First, she was a woman. That was a huge problem in the Roman world. Before the influence of Christianity, women were considered as little more than a piece of property. Second, she was a widow. Without a husband she had no “covering” in society. She had no benefactor or provider but had to scratch out a meager living any way she could. All of the economic and societal difficulties and challenges this widow faced paled in comparison to the issue that rises to the forefront of our text:
12 Just as He neared the gate of the
town, a dead man was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she
was a widow.
If you have never had
the misfortune of losing a child, it may be hard to grasp the pain of such an
event. That is not to say that we cannot appreciate the plight of someone who
has lost a child, but we do so at a safer distance when we have not faced this
black hole of despair ourselves.
Shari and I faced just such an event. It was, in fact, on this very date in May thirty-three years ago. After nine months of expectant preparation, with cardboard Care Bears, sitting on clouds of a newly painted nursery in our home, the day for Amanda Marie’s grand entrance into our lives had arrived. It was Sunday. It was nearly to the minute that I would have normally been stepping into the pulpit to preach. My text for that morning (without any knowledge of what would come that Sunday) was Psalm 11. The sermon title was, “How to Have Confidence in Crisis.”
At about 11:00 that morning Amanda arrived in a small, country hospital. There was some kind of emergency upon her arrival. The doctor and nurses worked frantically to clear Amanda’s little lungs. She had ingested myconium (anmniotic fluid). This happens fairly commonly. It is almost never a big deal. It was for Amanda. In the course of trying to get her lungs clear, her little heart gave out. At 11:35 that morning, our first-born was gone.
That was not the first problem I had faced in life. It would not be the last. It remains perhaps the most significant. My point is simply this: if you are alive, you will have problems. They may be problems that drive you to the very point of hopelessness. In these moments you must cling to this truth: there are problems we face in life that only Jesus can fix.
2. Second, we can draw the conclusion from our text that God takes PITY upon His creation (V13)
Shari and I faced just such an event. It was, in fact, on this very date in May thirty-three years ago. After nine months of expectant preparation, with cardboard Care Bears, sitting on clouds of a newly painted nursery in our home, the day for Amanda Marie’s grand entrance into our lives had arrived. It was Sunday. It was nearly to the minute that I would have normally been stepping into the pulpit to preach. My text for that morning (without any knowledge of what would come that Sunday) was Psalm 11. The sermon title was, “How to Have Confidence in Crisis.”
At about 11:00 that morning Amanda arrived in a small, country hospital. There was some kind of emergency upon her arrival. The doctor and nurses worked frantically to clear Amanda’s little lungs. She had ingested myconium (anmniotic fluid). This happens fairly commonly. It is almost never a big deal. It was for Amanda. In the course of trying to get her lungs clear, her little heart gave out. At 11:35 that morning, our first-born was gone.
That was not the first problem I had faced in life. It would not be the last. It remains perhaps the most significant. My point is simply this: if you are alive, you will have problems. They may be problems that drive you to the very point of hopelessness. In these moments you must cling to this truth: there are problems we face in life that only Jesus can fix.
2. Second, we can draw the conclusion from our text that God takes PITY upon His creation (V13)
Make no mistake about
this: God loves you and has a wonderful
plan for your life. When you step into
the boat of God’s salvation, you will
face problems, but notice what our text says about Jesus:
13 When the Lord saw her, He had
compassion on her
and said, “Don’t cry.”
and said, “Don’t cry.”
When I read this text
this morning I think of another mother who lost a child. This mother’s name was, Ann. Her daughter’s name was Diane. Ann attended our church with her adult son,
Martin, and adult daughter, Ann. Ann was
in her early 50’s. Martin was in his
late 40’s. Martin had been an usher in
this church for over 26 years. Martin
was mentally challenged. When he was
sixteen he and some friends were having fun in the mountains, the playground
for generations growing up in Globe, Arizona.
As can happen, a storm came up quickly.
Thunder roared and lightning lit up the sky. Martin was getting into the back of a pickup
to head for safety. Lightning struck
him. I think he lay in a coma and
semi-coma for over a year. Ann never
left his side. She nursed him back to
health. His body recovered but his mind
did not. Like the Widow of Nain, Ann
faced this problem with faith, most likely thinking it would be the greatest problem
she would ever have to face in life. It
was not. It was shortly after sunrise,
perhaps 5:30 or so. My phone rang. It was Ann.
She lived just a few houses down and around the corner. In a groaning I could barely decipher I
caught these words, “She did it. She did it.
Diane shot herself!” I threw some
clothes on and ran down the street. The
emergency crews were removing her body. Ann
was sitting on a chair out front. Still
in her nightgown she was covered with blood.
I learned that day what “pity” really feels like. All I could do is hug her as she cried. Diane’s blood would stain my shirt, but her
death stained my life to this day. In
that moment I felt love like I had never felt before for anyone—It was a love,
not rooted in romance or family, but rooted in “compassion.” I suspect it was a little like the love Jesus
had for the Widow. It is a love that
“wants” to make things better. In my
case, I could not fix Ann’s problem.
My compassion was incomplete. I felt compassion, but I could not say, “Do not cry,” because I could not make the situation better. I could not turn the tears to triumph. I could not turn the pain to possibilities. Only Jesus can do that. His pity is powerful. For, His pity moves His power to make situations better. Driven by His pity for us, Jesus can and does fix what no other person can fix.
My compassion was incomplete. I felt compassion, but I could not say, “Do not cry,” because I could not make the situation better. I could not turn the tears to triumph. I could not turn the pain to possibilities. Only Jesus can do that. His pity is powerful. For, His pity moves His power to make situations better. Driven by His pity for us, Jesus can and does fix what no other person can fix.
3. This brings us to another conclusion from this
text, Jesus how the POWER to bring hope out of
hopelessness (vv14-15).
We see in our
text: 14 Then He came up
and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, “Young
man, I tell you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to
speak.
Jesus
can fix problems that even a “Super Mom” cannot fix. We
can have pity on others—and we should—but our pity does not have the power that
attends to the compassion of God. God’s
compassion coursing through our lives may move our hearts, but compassion
moving through God’s heart moves mountains!
As human beings we
can, and we should, have compassion on those who are suffering. We can, and should, do everything humanly
possible to alleviate the suffering in our world. That is the essence of Christian
compassion. The hurt of the world moves
the heart of God—and it should move our hearts also. However, as we can do much to alleviate the
problems of our world, in reality our pity is pretty much powerless against the
massive movement of evil in our world. Not
so with the pity of God. The pity of God
drives the heart of God to move with great power in even the most “hopeless” of
cases. As I have said before, Jesus has the power to fix problems even a
Super Mom cannot fix.
The reason so many
people become overwhelmed by their problems is because they try to overcome
them with their own strength. As I said,
we can do much in regard to our problems, but in reality the greatest
demonstrations of human power fall very short of solving our most vexing
problems. The biggest bomb in the world,
for example, cannot blast away the evil we see in a group like ISIS. This evil has always existed in our world,
merely changing names from time to time.
To overcome our most difficult problems we must appreciate the power of God. Nikola Tesla (who lends his name to the Electric Car Manufacturer) is considered by many to be one of the greatest scientific minds in history—especially in regard to his knowledge of electricity. He was a genius that towered over other more known inventors, like Alexander Graham Bell. Tesla had a great appreciation for the power of electricity, but an even greater appreciation for the power of the Creator. A biographer of Tesla wrote that during a thunder storm Tesla liked to sit on a lack mohair couch by the window. When lightning would strike Tesla would clap. Tesla was a great genius who could appreciate the infinite genius of the Creator. Tesla, a expert in the power of electricity, know that the power of God was infinitely greater.
To overcome our most difficult problems we must appreciate the power of God. Nikola Tesla (who lends his name to the Electric Car Manufacturer) is considered by many to be one of the greatest scientific minds in history—especially in regard to his knowledge of electricity. He was a genius that towered over other more known inventors, like Alexander Graham Bell. Tesla had a great appreciation for the power of electricity, but an even greater appreciation for the power of the Creator. A biographer of Tesla wrote that during a thunder storm Tesla liked to sit on a lack mohair couch by the window. When lightning would strike Tesla would clap. Tesla was a great genius who could appreciate the infinite genius of the Creator. Tesla, a expert in the power of electricity, know that the power of God was infinitely greater.
As we contemplate
this text we must come to the conclusion that there are—and will be—problems in
our lives that all our human ingenuity and human resources will be
powerless. Such was the case with this
dead son of the widow. The funeral was
set. The procession neared the
grave. The pallbearers bore upon the
open funeral cot the lifeless body of a man.
There was no hope. Even his dear
mother that loved him more than life itself was powerless to change the
situation. But not Jesus. Jesus
can fix problems even a Super Mom cannot fix.
One touch. One call. The man sat up and spoke. Such is the power of God. Let us never doubt the power of Jesus Christ!
We have concluded that we all are facing and will face great problems in life. We have concluded that God looks upon the plight of His creatures and is moved with pity. We have concluded that His pity ignites His power and miracles happen.
We have concluded that we all are facing and will face great problems in life. We have concluded that God looks upon the plight of His creatures and is moved with pity. We have concluded that His pity ignites His power and miracles happen.
This brings us to a
final conclusion we can draw from our text.
4. There is a PURPOSE for your pain (vv15-17).
Remember a few minutes ago I pointed out that “problems are an inescapable fact of life.” Pain is inevitable. Yet, there is something even worse than experiencing the pain our problems bring. That is, losing hope in the midst of our problems. Experiencing pain, whether it is emotional, physical, or spiritual can lead to despair because chronic pain can lead to a feeling that even God has forgotten us.
Even great prophets like Elijah experienced such despair when faced with a great problem in his life. The problem he faced had a name—Jezebel. Jezebel was the wicked wife of the wicked King Ahab and Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah. She chased him into a desert place. We find Elijah discouraged and exhausted. IKings 19:4 says:
4. There is a PURPOSE for your pain (vv15-17).
Remember a few minutes ago I pointed out that “problems are an inescapable fact of life.” Pain is inevitable. Yet, there is something even worse than experiencing the pain our problems bring. That is, losing hope in the midst of our problems. Experiencing pain, whether it is emotional, physical, or spiritual can lead to despair because chronic pain can lead to a feeling that even God has forgotten us.
Even great prophets like Elijah experienced such despair when faced with a great problem in his life. The problem he faced had a name—Jezebel. Jezebel was the wicked wife of the wicked King Ahab and Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah. She chased him into a desert place. We find Elijah discouraged and exhausted. IKings 19:4 says:
He
[Elijah] went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom
tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my
life
Elijah was a great
prophet but being a great prophet did not spare him from feeling great pain,
and the despair that pain can bring.
Make note of this: Jesus did not
die to take away our pain—at least not yet.
You err greatly when you think that God’s primary goal for you in this
life is to be “rich and happy.” I know
we have no shortage of T.V. preachers promising “health and prosperity” as the
number one goal of God’s salvation but that is a BIG LIE.
Pain is inevitable. You cannot escape it. You can, in fact, embrace it. If you truly trust that God loves you and has promised to care for you, then you can discover that your problems and pain have a purpose.
Look at verses 15-17: 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited His people.” 17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
Note clearly that God CAN and God DID solve the widows son. Talk about an “opening act!” That got everyone’s attention. The “dead man sat up and began to speak!” You can bet that everyone in that room was ready to listen to what Jesus had to say. So that there would be no mistaking just what a powerful grip this miracle had on the hearts and minds of the people present, Luke does not give the man’s name but describes him as “ho nekros,” or “the dead man.” And, to guarantee even greater the certainty that this was a miracle it says, the Dead Man “began to speak.”
Actually, dead people do occasionally sit up I’m told. This is actually very rare and caused by a build-up of gases in the body after death. I can imagine seeing a dead man sit up would be quite freaky, but having him sit up and begin talking to you . . . well, I’d be looking for the door!
More than a few people were raised back to life by prophets and by during the ministry of the Lord Jesus. You can imagine the indescribable jubilation of the family at such an event. Notice in verse 15 it says specifically, “Jesus gave him to his mother.” Every miracle has a personal aspect to it. As we said before, when God sees us in distress he takes pity on us. His pity unleashes His power and many, many times our problem is solved—in the here and now.
We must be careful, however, when seeking God’s power over our problems because the ultimate PURPOSE of miracles is not personal comfort but the PROCLAMATION of Who God is and what His ultimate plan is for our lives. Let me say this again because it is so important: We must be careful when seeking God’s power over our problems because the ultimate PURPOSE of miracles is not personal comfort but the PROCLAMATION of Who God is and what His ultimate plan is for our lives. Every true miracle conveys the message of Who Jesus is, and why He came to die on the cross. Regardless of whether we experience a resolution to our pain in this life—and many times we do not—the ultimate purpose in our pain is to bring glory to God and to bring lost people to salvation. Some preachers refer to this as “Power Evangelism.” Look carefully at verses 16-17 again:
Pain is inevitable. You cannot escape it. You can, in fact, embrace it. If you truly trust that God loves you and has promised to care for you, then you can discover that your problems and pain have a purpose.
Look at verses 15-17: 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited His people.” 17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all the vicinity.
Note clearly that God CAN and God DID solve the widows son. Talk about an “opening act!” That got everyone’s attention. The “dead man sat up and began to speak!” You can bet that everyone in that room was ready to listen to what Jesus had to say. So that there would be no mistaking just what a powerful grip this miracle had on the hearts and minds of the people present, Luke does not give the man’s name but describes him as “ho nekros,” or “the dead man.” And, to guarantee even greater the certainty that this was a miracle it says, the Dead Man “began to speak.”
Actually, dead people do occasionally sit up I’m told. This is actually very rare and caused by a build-up of gases in the body after death. I can imagine seeing a dead man sit up would be quite freaky, but having him sit up and begin talking to you . . . well, I’d be looking for the door!
More than a few people were raised back to life by prophets and by during the ministry of the Lord Jesus. You can imagine the indescribable jubilation of the family at such an event. Notice in verse 15 it says specifically, “Jesus gave him to his mother.” Every miracle has a personal aspect to it. As we said before, when God sees us in distress he takes pity on us. His pity unleashes His power and many, many times our problem is solved—in the here and now.
We must be careful, however, when seeking God’s power over our problems because the ultimate PURPOSE of miracles is not personal comfort but the PROCLAMATION of Who God is and what His ultimate plan is for our lives. Let me say this again because it is so important: We must be careful when seeking God’s power over our problems because the ultimate PURPOSE of miracles is not personal comfort but the PROCLAMATION of Who God is and what His ultimate plan is for our lives. Every true miracle conveys the message of Who Jesus is, and why He came to die on the cross. Regardless of whether we experience a resolution to our pain in this life—and many times we do not—the ultimate purpose in our pain is to bring glory to God and to bring lost people to salvation. Some preachers refer to this as “Power Evangelism.” Look carefully at verses 16-17 again:
16 Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among
us,” and “God has visited His people.”
17 This report about Him went throughout Judea and all
the vicinity.
The great “error”
being proclaimed by prosperity preachers like Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland,
and Joel Olsteen is that the primary concern of God is with man’s
“happiness.” This is a grievous
misrepresentation of the Bible. God’s greatest
concern is not for our “happiness,” but for our “holiness.” God doesn’t do miracles like a magician does
parlor tricks to impress an audience.
God doesn’t do miracles simply to give us a pain-free, problem-free
existence. God does miracles to bring
glory to Himself and attention to His ultimate resolution of man’s most persistent
problem—sin.
You may experience great pain in life. You may be experiencing great pain at this moment. You may feel abandoned. You may be losing hope. Do not despair, God has a purpose for your pain that transcends your momentary suffering. Paul said it like this:
You may experience great pain in life. You may be experiencing great pain at this moment. You may feel abandoned. You may be losing hope. Do not despair, God has a purpose for your pain that transcends your momentary suffering. Paul said it like this:
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
A preacher once put
it this way: God will never waste your pain. If
you are experiencing some painful problem at present, it is for one of two
reasons: 1) if you are a child of God,
then God is using your pain to perfect His power in you so that you can be a
testimony to others; or 2) if you are not a Christian, God is trying to get
your attention so that you will listen to the message of the gospel and get
saved.
This story in the Bible is like everything else in the Bible. The point of this story and every story in the Bible is to demonstrate Who Jesus is, what He has done, and how you can be saved by putting your trust in Him. Regardless of what your problem may be, and regardless of whether that problem has been resolved, you can be assured of this: God has a purpose for your pain and that is to glorify Himself through you.
We began this morning looking at “mothers” as the greatest super heroes in the world. We all know, however, that there are problems we face in life that even the Greatest Mother in the World cannot fix. The greatest problem being our problem with sin. I assure you of this, however, Jesus can fix even those problems the Greatest Mother in the World cannot fix!
I will say without any bluster or hesitation that there is no greater love this side of heaven than the love a mother has for her children. It’s even greater than a father’s love. It may only be rivaled perhaps by the love one receives from the “mother of one’s children,” or a wife.
This story in the Bible is like everything else in the Bible. The point of this story and every story in the Bible is to demonstrate Who Jesus is, what He has done, and how you can be saved by putting your trust in Him. Regardless of what your problem may be, and regardless of whether that problem has been resolved, you can be assured of this: God has a purpose for your pain and that is to glorify Himself through you.
We began this morning looking at “mothers” as the greatest super heroes in the world. We all know, however, that there are problems we face in life that even the Greatest Mother in the World cannot fix. The greatest problem being our problem with sin. I assure you of this, however, Jesus can fix even those problems the Greatest Mother in the World cannot fix!
I will say without any bluster or hesitation that there is no greater love this side of heaven than the love a mother has for her children. It’s even greater than a father’s love. It may only be rivaled perhaps by the love one receives from the “mother of one’s children,” or a wife.
Every mom is a “Super
Mom,” but as great as a mother’s love is, God’s love for us is infinitely greater
still. As powerful as a mother’s love
is, the love of God is infinitely more powerful. Our text allows us to conclude that we will
have problems. God will take pity on our
plight. His pity will ignite His
power. And, His purpose will be revealed
through our problems.
Anonymous poet
wrote: Be thankful for our mothers//for they love with a higher love//from the
power God has given//and the strength from up above.
There are many problems that a mother’s love can fix but Jesus can fix those problems that even a Super Mom cannot fix.
There are many problems that a mother’s love can fix but Jesus can fix those problems that even a Super Mom cannot fix.
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