“THE DEAD MAN!”

 Luke 7:11-17                              (ESV)

JESUS Raises a Widow’s Son

“[11] Soon afterward HE went to a town called Nain, and HIS disciples and a great crowd went with HIM. [12] As HE drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had DIED was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. [13] And when the LORD saw her, HE had compassion on her and said to her, “DO NOT WEEP.” [14] Then HE came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And HE said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” [15] And “THE DEAD MAN” SAT UP and BEGAN TO SPEAK, and JESUS gave him to his mother. [16] Fear seized them all, and they glorified GOD, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “GOD has visited HIS people!” [17] And this report about HIM spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.”

There was a movie about 30 years ago named DEAD MAN WALKING.  It never made sense to me because I understood that once a person died, then came the JUDGEMENT (Hebrews 9:27)!  But WHO determines precisely WHEN A MAN DIES???  When does LIFE leave a man? That question apparently is answered by THE ONE WHO gives LIFE!!

In the past several days I have been reminded about Scripture saying that we must DIE TO SELF and LIVE FOR HIM to be used for HIS GLORY.  Matthew 10:38 “And whoever does not take his cross and follow ME is not worthy of ME” said JESUS!  The cross is emblematic of death, the end of a PHYSICAL life!  

In the passage of Scripture above it says “THE DEAD MAN” SAT UP and BEGAN TO SPEAK!  JESUS has THE POWER to raise dead people to LIFE, even without asking their permission! This particular young man was in a coffin, on his way to the burial ground, and JESUS INTERRUPTED his exodus!  

Can a DEAD MAN walk?  JESUS CHRIST IS LIFE (John 14:6), so HE can do whatever GLORIFIES THE FATHER!  Although I reportedly have been VERY close to death, GOD stepped in and worked HIS WAY in my life and restored me!  Like “THE DEAD MAN” in Luke 7:15, GOD uses we that are CHOSEN to GLORIFY HIS NAME!  How BLESSED are we???