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 at 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 abundantly 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."