Luke // Pastor Gene Pensiero

Jesus raises the dead son of a widowed woman at Nain.

Luke 7:11-17

Find audio, video, and text of this whole series in the Old Testament book of Psalms at https://calvaryhanford.com/psalmsundays

Some of us are in our dream job. You might go as far as saying you hate your job. You might have upward mobility. Perhaps you are stuck – can’t start over. The possibilities are many. Anna didn’t choose the course of her life, but no matter the twists and turns, she walked her course to please God. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Simeon awoke every morning with the imminent hope he would see the Messiah. Does that sound like anyone you know? (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, and shares the wonderful news of her pregnancy in a song called the Magnificat. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Jesus suddenly popped-in while the disciples were gathered together. A week later He would appear like this again, suddenly through closed doors, and present Himself to these same men along with Thomas, who initially doubted that the Lord was alive. The emotional effect of these appearances is captured in a strangely beautiful phrase in verse forty-one, which says, they still did not believe for joy, and marveled. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Lovers sometimes take walks. They don’t do it to get somewhere. They do it to be with someone. The progress that they make is not measured in distance, but in devotion. They spend time getting to know one another, deepening in their love. Often they arrive at the same geographical location from which they started – but feeling very different about themselves, having made a romantic progress that puts everything in an entirely new perspective. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

It should have been standing-room only outside of the tomb. Jesus told His followers more than once that He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. The place to be was outside of that tomb, waiting for the Lord to appear. Instead, some disciples were preparing to head home to Emmaus; the apostles were in hiding; and the women were hopeless as they were preparing spices to finish anointing Jesus’ dead body. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Seven-hundred years before Jesus died as a criminal but was buried in a rich man’s tomb, the prophet Isaiah let us know that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit had preplanned the events of that day. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

Taking-up and bearing the Cross were vivid images in the first century. The Romans executed by crucifixion. Often a condemned person could be seen taking-up their cross and bearing it to the place of crucifixion. When Jesus used this imagery, His listeners and followers understood that the way they lived was to be noticeably different from the rest of the world. They should be seen and heard as if they were taking-up and bearing the cross in their daily lives. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)

There are Jews and Romans in our verses; but they are not the main character. They are the background. Your eyes should be fixed upon Jesus. (Pastor Gene Pensiero)