This is a summary of the sermon preached on August 31, 2025.
- Date: Sunday Ausgust 31, 2025
- Venue: A Sunday service at Saitama International Church
- Title: "The Sovereign Lord Full of Love, Compassion, and Power"
- Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 1
目次
Introduction
A time when you wondered what your life was really about, when your purpose seemed to vanish, and you felt as though the meaning of your life had slipped away?
That is exactly where the widow in today’s story found herself.
She had lost her husband, and now she had lost her only son as well.
She had lost her family, her future, and with them, her reason to live.
But then she encountered Jesus.
And
Today, as we look at this passage together, I want us to see
And through this story, we’ll see that
God Who Works Through “Coincidences”
Just before this story, in Luke 7:1–10,
And then, not long after,
We don’t know exactly why Jesus went there.
But as they approached the gate of the town,
To us, this might look like a coincidence. But
What seems accidental from our perspective is never accidental with God.
Think about your own life.
How many of the most important relationships, the turning points, the open doors—seemed at first like coincidences?
Yet God was working.
That’s what He was doing here.
God Who Is Full of Compassion
Now let’s look at the woman.
She was a widow.
In that culture, that already meant vulnerability and struggle.
But she had one son, and he would have been her support, her future.
And now he was gone.
And then we read:
“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, ‘Don’t cry’” (v.13).
This is the heart of our Savior.
Friends, that is who our God is.
He is not distant from our suffering.
He does not look at us with cold detachment.
God Who Triumphs Over Death
After speaking to the woman, Jesus did something shocking.
In Jewish law, touching anything connected to a dead body made a person ceremonially unclean (Lev. 11:31–40; Num. 19:11–22).
That’s why people stayed away. But
Why?
Because
instead,
And
Here we see a preview of the cross and the resurrection.
The Holy God entered a sinful, broken world—not to avoid its corruption, but to conquer it.
God Who Loves Unconditionally
But there is one more truth we need to see.
Compare this story with the one right before it—the healing of the centurion’s servant.
In that story, Jesus marveled at the centurion’s great faith (v.9).
But in today’s story,
She did not ask Jesus to act.
She did not declare her trust.
Notice also the contrast.
The centurion was a man of rank and power, a Gentile with resources and influence.
The widow was a Jewish woman with no husband, no son, no wealth, and no status.
Yet
What does this tell us?
That
It is not based on how much faith you can muster.
It is not based on your status, your background, or your achievements.
Conclusion
When Jesus entered Nain, He met a widow who had just lost her only son.
He saw her pain, He was filled with compassion, He touched the coffin, and He raised the dead.
In that moment we see
And friends,
Your life may seem full of coincidences. But
The people you meet, the moments that shape you—these are all part of His plan.
Yes, sometimes life brings deep sorrow and loss.
Sometimes we feel like the widow at the gate of Nain—hopeless, empty, and alone.
But hear this:
And
That deliverance may come in this life—or it may come in the life to come.
But either way, the promise is sure.
Scripture tells us that
On that day,
So even now, if you are walking through sorrow, know this:
And
Until that day,
Amen.
Bibliography and Notes
- Bock, Darrell L. Luke 1:1-9:50. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Bk House, 1994.Darrell L. Bock, Baker Academic (1994/12/1)
- Edwards, James R. The Gospel According to Luke. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2015.James R. Edwards, Eerdmans Pub Co (2015/5/1)
- France, R. T. Luke. Teach the Text Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2013.