With 40+ years of pastoral/ministerial experience, little surprises me any more!
But a few years ago, I was taken back, by a request made by the father of one of my closest friends, Bob Kettering. Seems as Bob's dad planned out his memorial service, he not only selected the hymns, scripture, and participants -- but the type of after-worship reception he wanted.
To be specific, Bob’s dad wanted…an old fashion, 'all-out,' ice cream social! And so after the last hymn, on his funeral day – everyone headed out of the sanctuary -- down the stairs – into the fellowship hall – for the biggest buffet of Hershey’s ice cream – and Hershey’s toppings – you’ve ever seen!
Now most of us would never do such a thing, would we? How inappropriate!
But the better question is: should we do such a thing? Should we learn to celebrate -- to party -- to find joy – even in the lowest times of life?
But the better question is: should we do such a thing? Should we learn to celebrate -- to party -- to find joy – even in the lowest times of life?
Scripture says yes. Why delight should emerge from even the most strenuous moments.
One of the most dramatic examples is found in Luke 7:11ff, as Jesus, enters a town called Nain and raises a widow's son.
At the outset, however, there’s no elevation, only the lowest of the low, marked by grief and pain. And for a good reason: a widow’s son -- her only son -- is now dead -- carried in funeral procession, in a large wicker basket (Luke 7:12). As Jeremy Myers notes:
One of the most dramatic examples is found in Luke 7:11ff, as Jesus, enters a town called Nain and raises a widow's son.
At the outset, however, there’s no elevation, only the lowest of the low, marked by grief and pain. And for a good reason: a widow’s son -- her only son -- is now dead -- carried in funeral procession, in a large wicker basket (Luke 7:12). As Jeremy Myers notes:
"[...The widow]...had once again lost someone she loved dearly...She was now alone. Completely alone. There is nobody for her to share her grief with. Oh sure, there is that huge crowd of people behind her...But when you experience this kind of grief, you always feel completely alone, even when surrounded by multitudes..." https://redeeminggod.com/sermons/luke/luke_7_11-17/But, then, at the end of the story, everything has changed. Why Luke tells us, everyone is...
“…filled with awe and [praising] God…” (Luke 7:16).Amazing! One minute: dread – the next minute awe! One minute: despair – the next minute overflow! How does that happen? How do you overflow -- even when things are difficult and down?
For starters...
Hear “The Voice”
To be specific God’s voice. For in the midst of difficult situations – God is speaking.
It’s important to recognize: noise fills the funeral in Luke 7:11ff. I mean a traditional Jewish funeral is no quiet matter with flutes and cymbals and shrieking cries of grief. But then in the midst of it all -- another sound is heard: the voice of Jesus. “Don’t cry” – He says to the widow. “Don’t cry.” (Luke 7:13).
Isn’t that a beautiful word? Don’t cry! Where do you need such a word? I mean where is there nothing but noise and commotion in your life?
It’s important to recognize: noise fills the funeral in Luke 7:11ff. I mean a traditional Jewish funeral is no quiet matter with flutes and cymbals and shrieking cries of grief. But then in the midst of it all -- another sound is heard: the voice of Jesus. “Don’t cry” – He says to the widow. “Don’t cry.” (Luke 7:13).
Isn’t that a beautiful word? Don’t cry! Where do you need such a word? I mean where is there nothing but noise and commotion in your life?
A while back, our family was in Williamsburg doing “the tourist thing” – and so crowds were everywhere. Frankly, we were exhausted and done in – until we wandered into the Yankee Candle shop. Why working there was the most joyous saleswoman I’ve ever met.
"Picking us out of the crowd,” literally – she just started encouraging us. First, she approached Robin: you have the most beautiful, gorgeous hair! Then she approached our daughter Sarah – you are just the cutest thing, ever! Then she approached our son Peter – why you’re obviously a brain – a mighty big brain! Then she approached me. Why you’re obviously…a preacher! How do they always know!
But here’s my point: in the midst of a demanding day – that woman touched us, encouraged us – lifting us beyond our fatigue.
"Picking us out of the crowd,” literally – she just started encouraging us. First, she approached Robin: you have the most beautiful, gorgeous hair! Then she approached our daughter Sarah – you are just the cutest thing, ever! Then she approached our son Peter – why you’re obviously a brain – a mighty big brain! Then she approached me. Why you’re obviously…a preacher! How do they always know!
But here’s my point: in the midst of a demanding day – that woman touched us, encouraged us – lifting us beyond our fatigue.
Jesus wants to do the same. He wants to lift us beyond our fatigue. He wants to “pick us out of the crowd” and give an encouraging word…God’s Word. Why –
“Before I formed you…I knew you.” – He affirms. “Before you were born, I set you part.” - Jeremiah 1:5. “Though your sins are like scarlet [I will make them] as white as snow.” -- Isaiah 1:18. And so “come!” – Jesus affirms. Come! “Whoever is thirsty… [let him] come…and…take – the…gift -- of the water of life.” – Revelation 22:17.
Well, we overflow in difficulty in yet other ways. As we...
Believe: Miracles Still Happen.
In other words...as we believe God still intervenes, doing for us what we can’t do for ourselves.
It’s hard to discuss the funeral story in Luke 7:11ff without naming the miraculous. I mean not only did Jesus encourage the Mom – Jesus resurrected the son: literally! And touching the coffin, Jesus said: “Young man I say to you -- get up! [And] the dead man sat up and began to talk…” (Luke 7:14-15). Now, this episode has many themes, including this main theme: God can do anything!
It’s hard to discuss the funeral story in Luke 7:11ff without naming the miraculous. I mean not only did Jesus encourage the Mom – Jesus resurrected the son: literally! And touching the coffin, Jesus said: “Young man I say to you -- get up! [And] the dead man sat up and began to talk…” (Luke 7:14-15). Now, this episode has many themes, including this main theme: God can do anything!
Do you believe God can do anything?
Once in Sunday School, little Johnny was on the edge of his seat. “God can do anything!” – his teacher declared. Why God’s so great – he made Eve – out of one of Adam’s -- ribs!” And with that, the class was dismissed. Later that day, Johnny’s Mom saw him on the floor, clutching his side – obviously in pain! “Are you OK son?” the Mom exclaimed. “Yeah” – Johnny responded. “I just think – I’m having a wife!”
Once in Sunday School, little Johnny was on the edge of his seat. “God can do anything!” – his teacher declared. Why God’s so great – he made Eve – out of one of Adam’s -- ribs!” And with that, the class was dismissed. Later that day, Johnny’s Mom saw him on the floor, clutching his side – obviously in pain! “Are you OK son?” the Mom exclaimed. “Yeah” – Johnny responded. “I just think – I’m having a wife!”
“…I will give them…a new heart” – God promises in Ezekiel 11. “I will take [out their] hardened heart and give them a heart…sensitive to God.” (Ezekiel 11:19, The Amplified Bible).
Tony Campolo tells of being at a church in Oregon. While there he prayed fervently for a man who had cancer. A week later the man’s wife called Campolo and shared the outcome of Campolo’s prayer: the man died!
Campolo felt terrible; absolutely terrible. “Oh don’t feel terrible,” the wife said. “You see Tony until you prayed, my husband was one angry man! He was angry at me. He was angry at the kids. He was angry at God. But after you prayed, a miracle happened! Why peace and joy came over him like I had never seen. Why the last three days were the best three days of our lives. Why we sang. We laughed. We prayed. “No Tony,” she concluded. “My husband wasn’t cured. But Tony: my husband was healed.”
Where do need that kind of healing; where do you need that kind of miracle? God still transforms hardened hearts.
Campolo felt terrible; absolutely terrible. “Oh don’t feel terrible,” the wife said. “You see Tony until you prayed, my husband was one angry man! He was angry at me. He was angry at the kids. He was angry at God. But after you prayed, a miracle happened! Why peace and joy came over him like I had never seen. Why the last three days were the best three days of our lives. Why we sang. We laughed. We prayed. “No Tony,” she concluded. “My husband wasn’t cured. But Tony: my husband was healed.”
Where do need that kind of healing; where do you need that kind of miracle? God still transforms hardened hearts.
Well, we overflow in difficulty in yet other ways -- as we...
Soak-Up The Glory
Frankly, it’s not enough to receive a miracle – we need to absorb the miracle as well. It’s interesting: after witnessing the son’s resurrection, the crowd was “… filled with awe and praised God.” (Luke 7:16). The word for 'filled' means literally to be seized or apprehended. Thus, this is no mild-mannered event – but a glorious event – as supernatural reality literally penetrates -- in a deep and abiding way.
Does supernatural reality penetrate you?
James Joyce the twentieth-century novelist once observed: “modern man has an epidermis rather than a soul.” In other words: most of us live on the surface -- rather than living deep. But you never overflow with that kind of outlook. You only overflow as you go deep. And so...
James Joyce the twentieth-century novelist once observed: “modern man has an epidermis rather than a soul.” In other words: most of us live on the surface -- rather than living deep. But you never overflow with that kind of outlook. You only overflow as you go deep. And so...
“…Do not be foolish” – Paul admonishes in Ephesians 5 – “but understand what the Lord’s will is… [being] filled with the Spirit…” (Ephesians 5:17-18).
And for what reason? So we can...
Broadcast “The Help” Of God
You see we’re not filled with the Spirit for ourselves. We’re filled with the Spirit – to spread the Spirit. And so after seeing the miracle -- and soaking up the miracle -- the crowd in Luke 7:11ff became “…noisily grateful” – Luke tell us – “calling out among themselves, “God is back -- looking to the needs of his people.” (Luke 7:16, The Message).
Translated: “God has come to help his people."
[And so it was] this news -- about Jesus -- [that] spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” (Luke 7:16-17).
Translated: “God has come to help his people."
[And so it was] this news -- about Jesus -- [that] spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.” (Luke 7:16-17).
We’re to spread similar news: God has come to help! To be precise: to help, with all kinds of things.
And you thought Christianity cramped your style. No, Christianity is designed to assist – addressing your greatest need. For, God has come to help! For, “there is no one like [our] God” – the writer of Deuteronomy declares.
- To help with our marriages.
- To help with our finances.
- To help with our kids.
- To help with our careers.
And you thought Christianity cramped your style. No, Christianity is designed to assist – addressing your greatest need. For, God has come to help! For, “there is no one like [our] God” – the writer of Deuteronomy declares.
“Who rides on the heavens to help you -- and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms…” (Deuteronomy 33:26-27).
Lauri Johnson tells of taking her 12-year-old son Matthew over to his grandparents for the day. As you might imagine, they had a great time – working, playing and just hanging out. Well about 4 o’clock Lauri stopped by to pick up Mathew. Not surprisingly, her parents didn’t want to give him up; I mean they had had -- a really wonderful time. And so as Matthew began to leave -- Lauri’s dad just couldn’t contain himself: “Matthew” – he exclaimed – “you made my day.” Without missing a beat, Matthew responded -- “No granddaddy: God made your day! I just put the icing on it!”
Do you believe that: God makes your day?
It’s true – God does make your day, thus everything else is icing. For He is our refuge – inspiring and crafting our well-being.
And so even when life is low – we can overflow – for God is our Maker and strength.
It’s true – God does make your day, thus everything else is icing. For He is our refuge – inspiring and crafting our well-being.
And so even when life is low – we can overflow – for God is our Maker and strength.
Do you believe when life is low, you can overflow?
You can -- for God has come to help.
And so...:
Joy can shine in darkness.
You can -- for God has come to help.
And so...:
Joy can shine in darkness.
Resurrection can come from wreckage.
Ice cream can be served at funerals.
So don’t cry. Be filled with awe.
Spread the news. God has come to help!
God has come to help.
Spread the news. God has come to help!
God has come to help.
Because God helps – we can help – overflowing with the joy, promise, and power of Jesus – who is our refuge -- and -- our friend!
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