Luke 7:11-17 (NRSV)
Read Luke 7:11-17 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. Verse 12As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. Verse 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." Verse 14Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" Verse 15The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Verse 16Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" Verse 17This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.
Devotion
What did he say? What were his first words upon his resurrected birth from death to life? Was it, "Water please;" or, "Where am I?" or, "I have seen the light;" or, "Mom?" or, "I believe!" We do not know the words he uttered as he emerged from death’s slumber. The narrator of Luke's Gospel only writes, "The dead man sat up and began to speak." What he spoke remains a mystery. As you read this story, what words do you hear the dead man say by way of your holy imagination?
A more poignant question for us all: What do we say when we hear the proclamation that Jesus defeats death and overturns the grave by rising from the tomb and breathing Easter life? I suppose it depends. If we are honest, at times we say things like, "Nonsense;" "I don’t believe it;" "You lie." And at other times? Maybe we join with the crowd in Luke’s Gospel, "God has looked favorably on his people!" Or perhaps we pick up a mantra from other disciples, "I believe. Lord, help my unbelief." Whatever we say, the only word that truly matters belongs to Jesus and Jesus alone. And for that we are free to say, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you."
Prayer
Holy Word, you shatter the still silence of death by speaking us into your Easter life. What more is there to say? Thank you, Jesus, thank you. Amen.