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One of the things that continue to amaze one when going through the gospels,is how little space is given to enormous events. Whatever the reason it is certainly not to downplay the events. It is too tempting to glibly pass over this account of raising a widows son from the dead. This is something that was only done once before in Elijahs ministry. These scenes otherwise had never been witnessed in Israel or indeed in the world. Also resurrection is the greatest miracle of all. It is about the defeat of death, visibly demonstrated. Not only that, it was something that people hoped for on the last day of this evil age and at the beginning of Gods Kingdom (John 11:24). So for Jesus to be raising anyone from the dead means that the hope of Israel which belongs to the powers of the age to come has come into the now. So because the Kingdom powers of the age to come have comeinto the now before the end at the last day. We are forced to understand the Kingdom of God as now but not yet. The Kingdom has indeed broken through but its consumation is not yet. This means that the whole of the New Testament is eschatalogical (end times) Indeed Peter proclaims in Acts 1:16 explaining to all the different people proclaiming the mighty works of God in their own tongues this which you now see is what the prophet Joel spoke. "In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, your sons and daughters will prophesy, young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. The point is clearly made that the end times began spesifically at Pentecost but obviously included Jesus ministry leading up to his death and resurrection. We can be in no doubt that the end times began then for peter says what the prophet Joel spoke Then is happening Now and if that is happening now then we are in the last days!!!! Too many preachers speak of what is to happen in the end times or last days as if it is still future. The fact of the matter is, since Jesus ministry and His death and resurrection we have been in the last days or end times. What time is it? we are at 5 to 12 all we await is the return of Jesus to consumate the Kingdom of God. Hallelujah!!!!! We find in Luke 7:11... Jesus and His disciples along with a great crowd follow Jesus to the city of Nain. As they arrive they come across a funeral procession of an only son of a widow. We are told Jesus had compassion on her. For the widows circumstances left her in dire need. Being widowed she would have been dependant on her only son for any income. Who knows what would have become of her. Jesus says to her don't weep!!!Thats quite something to say to someone who has come to such grief. We are told the procession stood still, such was the impact of Jesus words to the widow, almost a stunned silence. Then in this silence Jesus says to the corpse young man arise!!!!!!!! Immediatly the dead young man stood up and began to speak and he gave him to his mother. This was Jesus comfort to the mother,instead of speaking tender words Jesus comforted the mother by returning her son to her from the dead. This is Jesus proclaiming to the witnesses who He is. He is God in the flesh,100% man and 100% God. This is clear from the crowds reaction to what had happened. firstly fear seized them as if they knew that it was God with whom they had to do!!!!! They then glorified God saying "A great prophet has risen amongst us and God visited His people. The crowds reaction speaks volumes, for they say God has visited His people. This isn't the words of some one just in awe, although that is part of it. The great promises of Isaiah and Zachariah that God would visit His people before He established His Kingdom. God would visit Israel and save them. This whole story of how God would visit and redeem Israel and Jerusalem is contained in Isaiah 50-53. This tells us that the hope of Israel was in the process of been realised. God was in the person Jesus visiting and redeeming Israel. Luke tells us this report of Jesus spread through all of Judea and the surrounding country. This would have included the resurrection as well as the realisation that God had at last come to redeem Israel as He had promised. Again we go back to the beginning of Lukes gospel where people like Simeon and Hannah are looking for the consolation of Israel and the redemption of Jerusalem. If we hope to live again and be raised to life in Gods Kingdom we must put our complete and total allegiance and faith in the Christ who is Jesus. |
