No Breath Left in Him

Second Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 7:11-17

"No Breath Left in Him"

"No breath left in him" - that's the title of today's message, which is based on today's Gospel lesson (Luke 7:11-17), but the phrase actually comes from the first verse of today's Old Testament lesson (1 Kings 17:17-24). The two accounts are strikingly similar: the death of a young man, the raising up of that young man by one sent from God, and the response of the people. We celebrated Easter Sunday just two months ago, but this sounds like Easter all over again: resurrection and new life. This is about life triumphing over death. Let's take a look at today's Gospel according to that 3-part perspective: the death of the young man, the raising up of that young man by one sent from God, and the response of the people. May the Lord's blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word, for Jesus' sake.

First, the death of the young man. Is there anything more tragic than a life cut short, and for a parent to bury their son or daughter? This goes against the natural order of things. Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around. Sadly, life doesn't always work out that way. In today's Gospel lesson we are confronted with a triple tragedy: 1) the death of a young man; 2) he was an only child; and 3) his mother was a widow. The Social Security system of the ancient world was the family. In old age, people depended on their children to care for them. The harsh reality was that widows were often reduced to begging just to have food. The widow of Nain undoubtedly knew what was in store for her: poverty, and unless someone mercifully intervened, starvation. The future for her meant almost certain death. Though there was "no breath left in him" (her son), in all likelihood, before long there would be no breath left in her, the widow herself. By God's own command, the most vulnerable in society - widows, orphans, aliens and strangers - were to be treated with compassion and kindness (Exodus 22:22; Deut. 14:29; Psalm 68:5, 146:9; Proverbs 15:25; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:6). Despite God's command, this did not often translate into action. The widow of Zaraephath in today's first lesson was in the same precarious place as the widow of Nain in today's Gospel.

Second, let's look at the raising up of that young man by one sent from God. On that day, one procession was headed out of the town called Nain, led by the dead, and another was headed into Nain, led by the living - the living Lord Jesus Christ. The two processions meet head-on. By touching the funeral bier containing the body of the dead man, Jesus risked becoming ritually unclean and impure. The law of Moses forbid coming into contact with the dead (Numbers 19:17-22). But that did not stop Jesus. He stepped forward and touched the bier. The word "touched" is an awfully weak translation. The original word means much more. Jesus took hold of it; he seized it and hung onto it. And in so doing, Jesus attacked the ultimate consequence of our sin, which is death itself. Foreshadowing what he would later do on Golgotha upon the cross, Jesus here went to battle with death, shattering its power, restoring life. Jesus had compassion on the widow of Nain. His heart went out to her, and he acted in her behalf. Jesus' heart still goes out to all who are weighed down with sadness, grief, and pain, and he has acted in our behalf. Through his death and resurrection, not only has Jesus made payment for our sins, he has broken the stranglehold of death over the life God first created. When we bury loved ones - and many of us have done that - life does not stop at the grave. Death becomes the gate to eternal life. What Jesus said to that young man, he will say to us: "Young man/young woman, I say to you, arise!" Death is destroyed. Life is restored.

Finally, let's look at the response of the people to Jesus' raising up of the dead man. We're told that "fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!' and ‘God has looked favorably on his people!' This word about him spread through Judea and all the surrounding country" (Luke 7:16-17). I imagine the reaction was fear; to see a dead man raised to life is unheard of. But did the "wow" of what took place lead people to faith in Christ Jesus? Maybe, maybe not. Human nature often focuses only the "wow," but doesn't get beyond it. When Jesus performs a miracle or sign in Scripture, the reaction of the people is often amazement and astonishment, but does this lead to faith? That's the whole point here: that by the power of the Holy Spirit we move beyond the amazement and astonishment to trust and faith in Christ Jesus, who not only raised the dead, but himself rose up from the dead and now lives and reigns as the Lord of life.

Sometimes the living feel like "there is no breath left" in them. You see, the widow of Nain is still with us today. She is among us in the forgotten and neglected, those who are without hope. Are there appropriate ministries for her today? The love of Christ calls us to bring new life and hope to those who have no breath left in them. We go forth from the house of the Lord to be the hands, the feet, and the mouth of Jesus; to touch the lives of those in need with Christ's mercy and hope. God help us to do this. Amen.