WeepNotJesusLivesLuke17 11to17

The Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity 20-September-2026
Sermon Text: Luke 7:11-17
Sermon Theme: Weep Not! Jesus Lives! I. He Stops Our March Of Tears!(vs. 11-12) II. His Heart Grieves With Us!(vs.13) III. He Speaks His Life Restoring Word! (vs. 14) IV. He Restores Our Family! (vs. 15) V. Joyfully Confess Him Our Emmanuel! (16-17) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!” Blessed Easter Sunday! Blessed Day of Resurrection! “Pastor, you are mistaken! Easter was five months ago. The early church celebrated Christ’s resurrection every Sunday. They lived in His victory for them! They faced persecution and death for gathering together. Still joyfully they assembled in the houses of the richer members, or in the catacombs under the streets of Rome. The place of death became the place where real life was celebrated - Sunday after Sunday - the Day of Resurrection.
    Perhaps we’d do well to recapture living in the reality of Easter. Recapture the rhythm of making every week of our life as Holy Week. Rejoicing that our King draws near to be present with us in His Church. Then remember to listen to His Word as He taught in His Temple on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday - making daily family devotions our top priority. On Wednesday, when He was silent - to fast from our phones and tablets to take extra time to pray and be in His Word. On Thursday begin preparing to feast at His Supper rereading our Small Catechism on the Sacrament of the Altar during our family devotions. On Friday remembering the price He paid to rescue us from all sins, from death,and the devil - being honest fast from pride, confess our sins to those whom we have hurt by words and actions. Seeking out our pastor for private absolution - that the burden or our guilt be removed through Jesus’ Word from the cross finishing it all FOR YOU! Saturday, ponder the reality that our bodies too will rest in the grave until Christ’s return in glory. Then after enjoying supper with our family - prepare to eat the Feast of Life at our Lord’s Table Sunday morning. Open your catechism asking each other Luther’s Christian Questions and Answers for preparing to receive the Lord’s Supper.
     Then remembering your baptism, confessing reality, and commending yourself into our heavenly Father’s hands in prayer - go to sleep in peace awaiting the rising of your body the next morning.
     Joyfully come to Church and hear: “Weep Not! Jesus Lives! I. He Stops Our March Of Tears!(vs. 11-12) II. His Heart Grieves With Us!(vs.13) III. He Speaks His Life Restoring Word! (vs. 14) IV. He Restores Our Family! (vs. 15) V. Joyfully Confess Him Our Emmanuel! (16-17)
 1 “It was a strange and dreadful fight, when life and death contended!” So Dr. Luther teaches us to confess in true praise worship. St. Luke records the historical reality. (vs.11) Two parades. At the head of one is the firstborn Son of His Mother. At the head of the other is the only son born of his mother. Both mothers are widows. Left to rely only on the care and protection of their sons for life.
    The day before at Capernaum, the Jewish elders intercede for a Roman centurion whose beloved servant is ill and at the point of dying. Jesus is willing to enter the centurion’s home, but this soldier feels unworthy that the Lord should defile Himself by entering a Gentile’s home. He trusts solely in the Word of Jesus to heal. A soldier knows the power of an order given. Jesus speaks - the Centurion’s servant is rescued from death and illness.
      Now Jesus marches on to preach His Life restoring Word. They come to the city of Nain. “Nain” means “Beautiful Vale” or “Valley”. To this day it is in a green hilly area full of life, but the creation once called “Very Good” by our Creator - has been corrupted by our sinful rebellion. From Adam onward we walk through the “Valley of the Shadow of Death.” (vs.12) The wages sin pays has always and only been death. Temporal death as body, soul, and spirit are ripped apart when we breathe our last. Eternal death in hell as body, soul, and spirit are forever isolated from God and all other creatures for eternity in hell.
       One parade is led by the firstborn Son of the Virgin Mary - the Lord of Life. The other parade is led by a dead man - the only son of a widow. Hope is gone. There are no social programs - her husband died before. On that day she could hold her only son’s hand on the march to the grave - today no one holds her trembling hand or wipes her tear filled eyes. A large crowd from the city mourns with her - she has lost all. They can only weep with her - that is all, but it is something. We’d do well to remember that members of Emmanuel are a family - we rejoice together - we weep together. Funerals are congregational gatherings to weep with those who weep.
      A disciple of Jesus follows Him. He doesn’t shy away from a funeral. He comes to share the mourners sorrow, that He may stop our tears. We follow Him into the house of mourning to bear one another’s burdens fulfilling His command to love one another.
2. The march toward the grave is halted. To this day when we see a funeral procession driving towards the cemetery, we pull over to the side and pay respect to the dead, as we let them pass by unhindered. The hearse reminds us that one day our lifeless corpse will too take that ride. We sat weeping with family as we were driven to the grave. Jesus, the Lord of Life, knows the awful toll sin bringing death has brought on this creation. Death isn’t natural. Death isn’t a friend - it is the final enemy. Death isn’t the cure for disease, depression, or an unwanted pregnancy. The Holy Spirit testifies, Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
       Jesus sees this mourning widow. He looks into her grief filled face, eyes overflowing with unending tears. He looks deeper and sees her broken heart - He is the Lord who knows us better than we know ourselves. Immediately His heart breaks with hers - He has compassion on her. Jesus has compassion on you. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
     A mother’s love for her son is great. Imagine Eve’s grief viewing the lifeless corpse of Abel. The one she had hoped to bring life to this world was a death bringer - Cain was a murderer. Many mothers never finish grieving the death of a son.  
     He knows your struggles. He knows your tears. He speaks His Word, ‘Do not weep.” Jesus in our God made Flesh to dwell among us. His Word accomplishes what it says - in the beginning of all history the eternal only begotten Son of God spoke, “Let there be light” and ever since “light shines in the darkness.” Take the truth to heart: Joh 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
    Jesus isn’t just a Man born of the Virgin Mary. He is the True God - the only begotten Son of God the Father from eternity with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is and remains the God/Man! The only Mediator between us and the only True God. His Word dries our tears, chases away our fears, and comforts our guilt filled consciences. His heart grieves with you and for you! Trust His unfailing compassion for us poor miserable sinners.
3. Agur speaks wisdom to his sons, Pro 30:15-16 ….There are three things that are never satisfied, Four never say, "Enough!": (16) The grave, The barren womb, The earth that is not satisfied with water—And the fire never says, "Enough!" The grave has an insatiable appetite. Death swallows up all - it never says, “Enough!”
     Only the Creator’s Word and sacrifice can break the grave’s bars and be the death of death forever! (vs.14) Jesus doesn’t shy away from the reality of death. We do. We don’t prepare wills, buy a lot at the cemetery, or purchase our headstone - we foolishly think death won’t swallow us up. We leave the burden to our children. Repent of foolish deception. Heed the prophet’s Isaiah’s word to King Hezekiah, “Set your house in order, for you will die!”
      Jesus touches the lifeless corpse of this dead son. The march to the cemetery is halted. Then the God of Creation become our Brother undoes death with His Word, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”
       Jesus’ Word alone brings life! He spoke His life giving Word to you this morning that first called you from death to life, ‘In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Life claimed you in baptism. He spoke His Life freeing word, “I forgive you all your sins!” Peace be with you! Cling to His Word always! You can be more certain of what you read in the Holy Bible than anything you feel or experience - read the red letters out loud - listen to the Word made Flesh FOR YOU! He seeks you! He speaks to you! “Arise! Shine for your Light has come!
4.  Elijah prayed, and paced, and stretched himself out on the lifeless corpse of the widow of Zarephath’s only son, praying, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him."
Our compassionate Creator had mercy and heeded the prophet’s pleas. Jesus, God in our Flesh, speaks - immediately death flees and life is restored! (vs.15) He did not say, ‘Arise” for all the graves would've been opened - He commanded only “Young man, I say to you arise.” Jesus speaks and Life reclaims us.
        The young man sits up and speaks. Some perhaps still have a voice message saved on their cell phone from a parent, child, or sibling whom death torn from us. With joyful tears we listen to hear their voice once more. Artificial Intelligence can even parrot the voice of our loved ones and carry on an imaginary conversation with them, but it isn’t real - it isn’t them. Just as practitioners of satanic arts claim to communicate with the dead for you - they only channel deceptive demons posing as your loved ones. Truth is there is no communication back from the grave to you - not even a cardinal, butterfly, or a wisp of air. When the rich man in hell wanted Lazarus to go back and warn his recalcitrant brothers to repent. Abraham told him, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them!” If you won’t listen to Jesus’ Life restoring Word in both the Old and New Testaments - a satanic specter or deceptive report from beyond the grave will not save you.
       Jesus speaks. Death is undone. A mother hears her son’s voice again! Joy fills her heart. Then Jesus restores their family. The young man will follow Jesus by returning home to care, provide, and protect his mother for the rest of her life. Jesus knows that family is necessary - so as He suffers for our sins that tear our families apart - He calls John to be Mary’s son. John obeys and cares for the widowed Virgin Mary for the rest of her life.
        Learn well that the Lord of Life restores you to your family. Sunday after Sunday are freed from your sin, filled with Jesus’ life and peace - sent home to live your faith in loving service of your spouse, children, grandchildren, and neighbor. Every Sunday come to Church that Jesus may speak you alive and present you again - a new living man - back to your family.
5. What would you do if suddenly a dead man came to life at a funeral? (vs.16-17) Fear came upon all! This Jesus is no ordinary Man. He is God in our Flesh!
    Does great fear come upon you here every Sunday? Dead in sin you are raised to new life - forgiven - restored - fed - freed - and sent forth in peace! How can you yawn? Wake up from the sleep of sin! Hear and see!
      Jesus is the Prophet foretold by Moses. Hear Him and live! Jesus is Emmanuel - God is with us! He has visited and remained with His Church on earth. His ascension didn’t separate us from God’s love. He is enthroned at the right hand of God the Father - True Man/True God to fill all things. He is present in His Word and preaching. He is the Baptizer of every infant. He is the Absolver of every repentant sinner. He is the Host feeding us His living Body and Blood at His Table - how can we not be filled with great fear - we stand in the presence of the living God!
      Let not your confession of Christ end as you leave the Divine Service. Take it out into the world. (vs.17) Live in Easter! Tell your grieving brothers and sisters in Christ! “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” Tell the world, any who come into ear shod, ‘Alleluia! The Lord is risen! “ “Weep Not! Jesus Lives!” Amen.