Power over Death!

Luke 7:11-17 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. (12) Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. (13) And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. (14) And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. (15) And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. (16) And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. (17) And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about. 

Along with the daily instruction from Jesus,  those that followed him also got to witness the power of God through his many miracles.  It continues to amaze me how that, in modern day religion, those that claim that they are able to perform miracles, continue to attempt to duplicate Jesus.  However, have you noticed these pretender’s limited repertoire?  If you watch one of these performances on TV, you will find person after person coming on stage in a wheel chair, with unproven illnesses and then they walk off seemingly ok.  

Once, I saw a “preacher” who brought a deaf/mute man out on stage and the preacher claimed that he had already healed him back stage.  He only wanted to demonstrate the “power of God” so he asked the man to say “baby”.  After lots of prodding, three times the man was only able to get out the sound “bah”.  When the preacher saw that it wasn’t going to happen, he defended the difficulty by saying that the man could hear, he would now just need to learn how to talk.  REALLY?  Carefully notice a similar experience that Jesus had.

Mark 7:32-35 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. (33) And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; (34) And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. (35) And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake PLAIN. 

When TRUE miracles were performed by Jesus they were instantaneous and COMPLETE.  No need for the deaf to learn to hear.  No need for the mute to learn to speak.  No need for the lame to learn to walk.  No need for the crippled to learn to do.  No need for time for the storm to move out.  No need for the dead to learn to live.

If these so-called “miracle workers” wanted to truly prove they could do what Jesus did, they need to follow Jesus’ lead from our passage today.  Go to a funeral home or go to a cemetery and prove they have the power over Death!  Jesus not only healed all manner of illness, he also stilled storms and raised several people from the dead including the man in our text and his friend Lazarus.

John 11:23-27 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. (24) Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (25) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 

In the case of Lazarus, Jesus used his raising to relate it to the Great resurrection.  If we are followers of Jesus, we can beat the final death, in the same manner that Jesus was rasied from the dead.   In that final resurrection, we too can be victorious over death.

1 Corinthians 15:52-57 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (56) The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.