Jesus called a young man from death to life by his word. He said, “’Young man, I say to you, get up!’ and the man sat up and began to talk.” Here are Luke’s words,

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. ¹³When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." ¹⁴Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" ¹⁵The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. ¹⁶They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." ¹⁷This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country. Luke 7:12-17

Luke chose his words carefully as he wrote the account. Luke highlighted Jesus’ compassion as he poured out his heart and life to her. Luke emphasized that Jesus went up and touched the casket, taking a chance at becoming unclean by touching the unclean but rather than becoming unclean, Jesus brings life into death.

Can you imagine the modern media interviewing this young man? What did you see when you were dead? What did you talk about when you first woke up? (Amazing that Luke only says that he began talking, something dead people cannot do!) How did this man raise you from death to life? (How could he know – he was dead and came to life by Jesus’ word!) We have a fascination for things that don’t matter.

We wonder, “How bad is too bad for Jesus to forgive?” We question, “Can he really embrace me after all I have done and after everything that has been done to me?” We posture believing that we can keep one foot in the old way and one foot in the new. We were dead, now we are alive – there is no middle ground. We have been called from death to life in Jesus’ name, yet we play around with the dead stuff. Dead stuff stinks. Dead stuff breeds more death. Life is sweet, elegant perfume.

Luke sticks to the point – Jesus spoke; Jesus healed; Jesus called from death to life. We are called to stick to the point – Jesus speaks; Jesus heals; Jesus calls us from death to life. Jesus’ life lives in us – all of it! He lived perfectly in our place, he suffered, he died and he rose again. Life always wins out over death in Jesus’ name.

We are free, liberated from death by the forgiveness of sins and the healing that God speaks. We are called to rejoice in his life and in his holiness. We are called to learn to live free and healed. May God grant us courage to say “thank you.” May God grant us boldness to call out to our merciful Father in confident hope of the life of his son destroying the dead stuff in our lives. May God’s peace, which passes our understanding, guard our hearts and minds. Blessings IN Christ, Cindy

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