Jesus Calls forth Life from Death

A large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted

by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet

face to face a the gate of the city (Luke 7:11-17): Filled with compassion,

Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome

it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life,

"Young

man, I say to you, arise."

» Jesus does what is neither expected nor

requested. For through Christ, God the Father

"is able to do far more

abundamily than all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:14-21). Jesus bore our death

in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah

stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman's son (2

Kings 17:17-24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold

application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and

everlasting life into us.

"To Him be glory in the church and in Christ

Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." LCMS Lectionary