The Church Season of Trinity
The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (September 19, 2010)
The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (September 19, 2010)
“CHRIST WINS, LIFE WINS”
Readings:
Psalm
1 Kings 17:17-24
Ephesians 3:13-21
Luke 7:11-17
Sermon Form Deductive
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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The text for today’s message as recorded in the Old Testament Lesson from the 7th chapter of Luke:
Luke 7:11-17 (NASB95)
“11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “ Do not weep.”14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “ Young man , I say to you, arise !” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” 17 This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.”
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Today death meets life in a small town called Nain. Christ’s disciples and a large crowd follow Him into Nain, where they meet a large funeral procession. A widow’s son is on his way to be buried. A grieving mother walks alone, weeping over her son.
Jesus can’t help but have compassion. He knows what will happen to Him soon. He too will be part of a funeral procession…a procession that we helped prepare. Death was not part of God’s creation. Our Father created all things good, and that means no death. Disobeying God brought death into the world. Saint Paul reminds us the wages of sin is death. Now that mankind is enslaved by sin, man can do nothing to fix the problem. Man adds to that bondage by blaming God for death. After all, it’s reasonable to believe that if God created all things, He most certainly created death.
But, how quickly we forget that God created all things good. Death is not good. Ask the widow whom Elijah fed in 1 Kings 17. Her son ended up dying while the man of God was in the house. Where does she put the blame? What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?
Elijah bears the burden of the Lord. That burden is one of bad news and good news. This same burden is borne by pastors. Pastors bear the burden of preaching both Law and Gospel. The bad news is we are all sinners. We deserve to die because of sin. And continuing in sin without repentance means we die for all eternity. This does not mean that God sends certain people to heaven and certain people to hell. This means that we have rejected God’s grace.
The other burden pastors bear is the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel makes neither threats nor demands. The Gospel speaks righteousness from heaven come to earth in the God-Man Jesus Christ. Jesus comes from heaven to earth to contend with death and Jesus wins, for you. Just as Jesus has new life after His resurrection, so do you. Life wins!
The eyes that see Jesus Christ die will see Him alive. Death is swallowed up in victory. Don’t be afraid. The sting of your sin is paid in full through Jesus Christ’s blood and righteousness. The account is settled. Jesus bears that burden into the tomb…and leaves it there. There is an ancient Easter hymn which says it best: “Death and life have contended/In that combat stupendous/The Prince of Life Who died/Reigns immortal.” Death and life contend in 1 Kings 17. Elijah stretches himself on the child and begs God three times to let him live. The LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. Life wins!
Death and life contend in our Gospel lesson. Jesus tells the woman not to weep. He touches the open coffin and says, Young man, I say to you, arise. The Word that brought all things into being now brings a young man, the only son of a widow, back to life. The living son can’t help but open his mouth and speak. Jesus helps him off the coffin and presents him to his mother. Life wins!
Perhaps the Blessed Virgin Mary walks with our Lord into Nain and sees this miracle of life. She will take her place as the weeping mother as her only-begotten Son’s whose lifeless, bloodied, beaten body will be carried from the cross. The sacrifice for sin is finished. Death and life have contended. The eyes of all who saw Him die will think death has won the decisive victory.
Might it be words of victory and resurrection the great prophet spoke when Jesus raised him from the dead? Saint Luke doesn’t say. However, Luke does tell us the people cry out God has visited His people. God visits you today. He visits you in His service, where death and life meet face to face. Jesus Christ is here to take your death away and give you life.
The Divine Service is about two things: death and life. The confession of sins proclaims we are sinful and unclean, and deserving of death. The absolution proclaims your sins forgiven. You live. Christ wins, His life for yours and life wins.
The three Bible readings today show how God’s people of old deserved to die by the things they said and did. Yet they live because they repent and believe in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again. You live. When the Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this altar, proclaiming the death of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. You eat and drink His Body and Blood for that forgiveness. You live, life wins. His triune Name is spoken over you at the beginning and end of the Divine Service, as it was spoken over you at your baptism. The sign of the holy cross accompanies His Name, as you trace that sign on your own body. You died to sin and rose to life through baptism. Christ wins, you live, life wins.
This is why our churches place the baptismal font either in front of the chancel or right as you walk in the nave. God wants you to see where your life was given to you. He wants to keep it before your eyes always where Christ won, you win, life wins.
This is why our churches place the altar front and center in the chancel. God wants you to see where the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving is centered. He wants you to eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ for your salvation.
Death meets life here every Lord’s Day and holy day. God visits His people and takes their sin away. Christ leaves you with His life and His forgiveness. See, the Son of God lives! Because He lives, you live! Christ has won, you win, life wins, eternal life won, for you. Amen.
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