Luke 7:11-17
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
God is Almighty. He knows everything and he can do everything. He is eternally free and full of joy. God grants joy to man, who can live happily on earth while he is in the flesh, and forever in heaven after he dies (Rev 21:4-7). God granted us eternal joy in heaven by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, into this world, to suffer the wages of our sin - curses, death and hell - instead of us.
Man sinned when he was deceived by the devil into eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. which God had told him not to eat. But God provided the way for man to be restored to happiness.
In this world there is no-one who can set us free from curses, death and hell. Only Jesus Christ's almighty power can save man (John 3:16, 1 John 3:8, Romans 14:07-8).
Man can only be happy through Jesus Christ, who can take him out of his despair. The life of Jesus is not a fairytale. You can meet Jesus even now, and be set free from your problems. How many of our church members have experienced this, being healed from diseases and having their problems being solved?
The widow from today's Scripture must have been in such despair, having lost her only son. But through Jesus she found exceeding joy (Luke 7:11-15). Jesus asks all who are in despair to come to him (Matthew 11:28, John 15:7).
Jesus commands, "Young man, stand up!" "Lazarus, come out!" "Little girl, wake up!" "Blind person, according to your faith it will be done!" Let Jesus take away all your unhappiness today.
Do it through Jesus, the Word of God, prayer and faith. Only Jesus can set you free. You need Jesus today.
God has promised that he will do this here and now through the Holy Spirit, the Word of God and the Name of Jesus. Be set free. And tell others what the Lord has done for you. This is the will of the Lord.
2013.1.13
