Collision Course
Intro: You heard about the guy that applied for the job at a train terminal. He was asked several questions. The last was, what would you do if a train from the east was traveling at 75 mph and a train from the west was traveling 85 mph and they were going to collide.
I'd call my friend Leroy. And say wake up Leroy and get yourself down here right now. Why? Cause Leroy ain’t ever seen a wreck like we’re getting ready to see
This past year has seen a lot of collisions, like the USS GREENEVILLE and the Japanese fishing vessel. The world stood in awe as commercial airliners collided with the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The whole world felt the effects of the collision of U.S. forces and the Taliband
Most collisions are devastating, but today we look at a collision with a happy ending
As you read this story, you see Jesus coming into the city and the widow and her son leaving the city.
Both Are traveling with large groups. Two processions are on a collision course.
Text: Luke 7:11-16
11 Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his followers and a large crowd traveled with him. 12 When he came near the town gate, he saw a funeral. A mother, who was a widow, had lost her only son. A large crowd from the town was with the mother while her son was being carried out. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt very sorry for her and said, “Don’t cry.” 14 He went up and touched the coffin, and the people who were carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, get up!” 15 And the son sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 All the people were amazed and began praising God, saying, “A great prophet has come to us! God has come to help his people.”
The scriptures record a collision has taken place.
1. The first procession was led by pale horse of death the other by the Lord of life who is master over death.
2. One is on the way to the grave - the other on the way to glory.
3. One is led by the king of terror - the other by the Prince of Peace.
There was a life and death encounter and Jesus was going to be victorious.
Let’s take a closer look at these processions.
I. THE PROCESSION OF THE MOTHER.
THIS IS A PROCESSION OF Dispair . vs. 12
A. Here we come face to face with death.
1.You can’t avoid death .
Heb. 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
2. Death is selective.
No respecter of persons.
* The old must die, the young may die!
3. Death is often an uninvited guest. Death takes us by surprise.
a. We have the idea that we are Superman.
We play games with death
Drugs ---------overdose, addiction, jail
Sex--------------aids.
It seems that death has the winning hand
BUT JESUS HAS THE TWO WINNING HAND’S OF CALVARY
1. The first death recorded in history was not the death of a Father. But the death of his son.
2. The first grave was not for an old man, but for a young man.
B. We also come face to face with misery.
Many of you know how this woman must have felt.
When her husband died, all she had left was her son.
--He was her future provider. ----- NO Social Security, no services
--He was her future protection. -----No nursing home
--He was her life.
II. THEN WE NOTICE THE SECOND PROCESSION, led by the Lord of Life
This widow woman was heading out of the city while Jesus was heading in.
1. A coincidence! No. Notice Jesus’ reaction.
2. He extended his heart to the woman
Isn't it great to know that we have a God who knows what we are experiencing.
Jesus is not just sitting on his throne vegging out
We have a God whose heart can be touched.
He had compassion -- Compassion is love in action. Compassion is feeling someone else's hurt.
B. He extended his hand to her son
Jesus stopped this funeral procession
That's why Jesus came back -- to defeat death.
He speaks to the Mother.
He speaks to those carrying the body.
He speaks to the dead. (Can the dead hear?)
Thank God He speaks to the dead.
Why is this such good news?
We were dead in trespasses and sin!
"Young man, I say unto thee Arise!"
the two processions combine making A THIRD PROCESSION -- A
PROCESSION OF VICTORY.
The Dead Young Man
Sat up
Spoke up
What do you think he was saying?
-- Mother, tell those mourners to go somewhere else.
-- Tell those grave diggers to go fill up that grave.
-- Tell those guys to put me down.
-- Tell that funeral director to refund your money.
CONCLUSION
This morning I want to ask you a question --
* Have you experienced the second birth?
* Have you thanked the Lord.
We came in here today on a Collision Course
We Brought Jesus Brought
Our Pride The Humility of a loving Savior
Our sinful nature The Holiness of a saving God
Our loneliness The comfort of the HOLY SPIRIT
Our Sickness The bloody back of a Suffering King
Our confusion The Guiding Light of Jesus Christ
