Five Great Powers Of Life

FIVE GREAT POWERS OF LIFE

Luke 7:11-17

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

12 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.

13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don’t cry."

14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 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."

17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Early in Dwight L. Moody’s ministry, he was called upon to conduct his first funeral. Mr. Moody, desiring to do things correctly, went to the Bible to consider how Jesus would have done it. He found an amazing truth. Jesus didn’t hold any funeral services!

In fact, the New Testament tells us that whenever Jesus came into contact with those who were dead He gave them life! He raised three people from the dead: Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, and the widow’s son.

Look at the scene before us. Jesus was on his way to the city of Nain when He came upon a very sad procession. Sickness had visited a widow’s home and her only son had died.. Now they’re on their way to the cemetery. The poor mother had looked for the last time into the face of her son.

But look at the reaction of Jesus in verse 13. When anyone suffered, He suffered with them! He still does! He couldn’t stand in the presence of sorrow without being touched in His spirit. So He went up to the woman and said, “Don’t cry.” But why shouldn’t she cry? Her only son is gone. Part of her heart has been taken away.

Jesus stopped the procession and said to the dead son, “Get up young man.” And he got up and began to talk. What do you suppose he said? How happy his mother must have been. I’m sure she tanked Jesus, the Lord of Life with all of her heart.

In this miracle I see five great powers of life.

1. THE POWER OF DEATH

1. It’s a universal power–everyone is going to die. The Bible says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb.9:27). Death is no respecter of persons. High or low, rich or poor, young or old. Death comes to us all.

2. It is a power against which we are helpless. We can’t stop it once the die is cast. We can’t buy our way out of it. We may stave it off for a while through medicine, the best doctors, the best treatments, and even a healthy life style, but sooner or later, the grim reaper will come calling.

3. It is a mysterious power. It strikes when and where we least expect it. I have sat in the waiting rooms with families when the doctors have told them that death was imminent, only to see that individual raised up and sent home. I have also comforted those families whose loved one was suddenly taken. We should recognize the power of death and prepare for it!

2. THE POWER OF LOVE

There is no doubt in my mind that love is the greatest power on earth.

• The widow wept because of her love for her son.

• It was love that brought God’s Son to die for us.

• We have the technology to destroy cities and perhaps even nations, but we cannot destroy love.

• Love can transform the meanest and most vile of all sinners, a truth to which many of us can testify.

• Love of country and freedom will cause people to fight and die.

• Love for a woman will cause a man to do just about anything. So will love for a man by a woman. Aleida Huissen, 78 of Rotterdam, Netherlands, had been smoking for 50 years. And for all that time she had been trying to give up the habit. But something happened that changed all that. She has now given up cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. The secret? Leo Jansen, 79, proposed to her, but refused to go through with the wedding until she gave up smoking. So what will power could not accomplish, love did.

• Love will even cause one to do what is distasteful. Case in point: Francis of Assisi. He was terrified of leprosy. And one day, as he was traveling down a path he came upon a leper. Instantly he was repulsed at the sight and looked away as he passed. Then he became ashamed at his attitude. He hurried to the man, through his arms around him and kissed him, then passed on. A moment later he looked back and there was no one there. All his days thereafter he was sure it was no leper, but Christ Himself whom he had met.