Old Testament Reading: Psalm 40

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me. Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the LORD!” As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!” (Psalm 40, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 8:49-56

“While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.’ But Jesus on hearing this answered him, ‘Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.’ And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, ‘Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.” (Luke 8:49–56, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand something about your Pastor. I do love Christmas. I think it is a wonderful tradition to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I am glad that it remains in our culture. Our family celebrates this holiday. And as you know, it is our tradition here at Emmaus to offer a special Christmas Eve candle-lighting service wherein we read the narrative of our Savior’s birth from Scripture, and sing – it’s a wonderful tradition, in my opinion. I mention my love and appreciation for this holiday because you have probably noticed that I do not typically break from my normal preaching routine as Christmas draws near. I suppose that some may interpret this to mean that I do not care for the holiday, or that I do not think it should be celebrated at all, but that is not true. Why then do I rarely break from my normal preaching routine during the holiday season? For two reasons:

One, though there are some man-made traditions that are good and profitable – Christmas being one of them – we should be careful to protect the public worship of God from being encroached upon by the traditions of man. Now, given that the Christmas holiday is about the birth of Jesus, it would not be wrong to take the opportunity to preach a series of sermons on the doctrine of the incarnation or on the narrative of Christ’s birth. In fact, I’m sure I will do this from time to time. I’m certainly not opposed to it! But I do not think we should be strictly bound to this tradition. 

Two, as we approach Christmas I often find that the passage or passages of Scripture that we are coming to, in whatever book we happen to be working our way through, are suitable for the Christmas season, even if they are not those passages which speak most directly about the nativity story or the doctrine of the incarnation. And this should not surprise us given that the Scriptures are all about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and our reconciliation with God through faith in him. Brothers and sisters,  during the Christmas season we should not only marvel over the fact or event of the incarnation, but over the purpose and result of the incarnation too. Many texts of Scripture speak to the purpose for and result of the incarnation of the eternal Son of God. And so we are not restricted to consider only Luke 1-2, Matthew 1-2, or John 1 during this holiday season each year, but are free to marvel over the incarnate Son of God from many other texts and vantage points.   

This is what we will do today. We will consider the purpose or result of the incarnation from this sorrowful story found in Luke 8:49-56. At first glance, this story, with its repeated mention of death, might seem incompatible with this holiday we are celebrating, which is all about birth. But in fact, I think this is a wonderful passage for us to consider on this Christmas Eve. Why is the birth of Jesus worth remembering and celebrating? It is because this Jesus, who was born to a poor virgin and lain in a manger, is the eternal Son of God incarnate. He was born into this world for this purpose: to save sinners from death and eternal judgment. In the passage that is open before us today, Jesus demonstrates that he has the power to save – the power to save all who place their faith in him from the dead and to give them new and eternal life.  

Jesus’ victory over death and his power to give eternal life is seen most clearly in his own resurrection from the grave. He was crucified and buried and on the third day he was raised to incorruptible glory. But the Gospels also record three instances during the public ministry of Jesus wherein he raised others from the dead. 

We have already considered one of these stories in our study of the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 7:11-17 we find the story of the raising of a widow’s only son. The text says that as Christ drew near to a city he saw a funeral procession. “And when the Lord saw [a widow grieving the loss of her only son], he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’ Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, ‘Young man, I say to you, arise.’ And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother” (Luke 7:13–15, ESV). 

A second, and probably the most famous, account of Christ raising the dead is found in John 11. There we are told that Jesus spoke to his friend Lazarus who had died and was in the tomb for four days, saying, “‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go’” (John 11:43–44, ESV). 

The third account of Jesus raising the dead is found here in Luke 8:49-56. It is the story of Jesus raising the only daughter of a man named Jairus (Ἰάϊρος). I would like to consider this story with you in three parts: Firstly, I want you to see that Jesus compassionately and graciously entered into this house of death and mourning. Secondly, I want you to see that once there he delivered a message of hope and peace to all who are in this house of death and mourning. And thirdly, I want you to see that while in this house, Jesus demonstrated that he has the power to free us from bondage to death and from all mourning. I have worded these three observations carefully so that they might be applied, not only to what Christ did for the house of Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) but also to what he had done for the house of death and mourning that is this world. Through the incarnation, he has entered into this house of death and mourning to deliver a message of hope and peace and to conquer death by his own resurrection from the grave, thus demonstrating that he has the power to save those who come to him by faith from death and judgment and to give them life eternal. I do believe this is the proper interpretation of the passage that is open before us today. Jesus did something kind and wonderful for this man and his family when he raised his only daughter from the dead, and in this miracle, we find a little picture of the mission of the eternal Son of God incarnate. He entered into our house of mourning, proclaimed the gospel of peace, touched and tasted death for those given to him by the Father, and was himself raised again on the third day. In this way, he has won the victory and secured the eternal reward for his people. 

*****

Jesus Graciously Entered This House Of Death And Mourning 

First, let us see that Jesus graciously entered this house of death and mourning.

This story is at first a very sad story. This man named Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) was a ruler of a synagogue. His only daughter was very ill and was on the brink of death at the young age of twelve. His great love for his daughter and his faith in Christ were put on full display. In Luke 8:41 we are told that he came to Jesus and fell at his feet and  “implored him to come to his house”. Clearly, he was hoping that Jesus would heal his beloved daughter. And in verse 49 we are told that when Jesus was still speaking to the woman he had healed, “someone from the ruler’s house came and said, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher anymore’” (Luke 8:49, ESV). It is difficult to imagine and more sorrowful scene than this. Death is always mournful, but this was especially dreadful. This was the only daughter of Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) and she was only twelve years of age. 

As I was reflecting on this sorrowful scene, it occurred to me that by God’s grace we enjoy so many wonderful blessings in this life that it is possible to live day after day, week after week, month after month, and even year after year, and to think little of death. I’m afraid this is especially true in our affluent society where men and women often live to a ripe old age and where death is often hidden from our sight. While I am grateful for the blessing of this life, it is not a wise way to live, friends, to put the reality of death so firmly our our minds. The one who is wise will consider his or her mortality and will prepare for death, yes even at a young age. The one who is wise will see that we do in fact live in a house of death and mourning. Blessings abound in this world! But death will come to all. And so we should not ignore this reality but face it and prepare for it by turning from sin and by trusting Christ as Lord and Savior. 

Notice that Christ did not retreat from this mournful situation. He did not keep his distance or refuse to draw near to suffering and the grief of death. No, Christ showed compassion to this man who fell at his feet (whose name means YHWH enlightens) and went into the house of mourning with him. He entered the house of mourning to free his daughter from the chains of death and to free him from his bondage to hopeless and helpless sorrow. 

Friends, can you see that it was for this very purpose the person of the eternal Son or Word of God became incarnate? God, in his perfect love and mercy, sent the Son into this sinful and cursed world to save sinners, to rescue them from the curse of sin and death and from hopeless despair. And how did he come into the house of this world? By assuming a human nature, body, and soul.  It would be through human nature he assumed that the Son of God would touch and taste death for all of God’s elect.  What Jesus did for Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) by going with him down into his house of mourning was but a little picture or taste of what Christ has done for all who believe. 

*****

Jesus Delivered A Message Of Hope And Peace

So, we have observed that Jesus graciously entered this house of death and mourning. Notice, secondly, that Jesus delivered a message of hope and peace.

Look at what Jesus said to Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) in verse 50: “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

These are precious words. They are words of comfort that we might say to one another when seeking to console. But when they are spoken by Jesus, the Son of God incarnate, they have an entirely different force. 

“Do not fear”, Jesus said. Do not fear what? He must mean, do not fear death. 

“Only believe”, he said. Believe what and in whom? Believe in Jesus and know for certain that he has the power to save from death. 

“And she will be well”, Jesus said. What does this mean? I suppose it could have been taken as a reference to her life in eternity – she will be well in the end, on the last day. But we know that Jesus’ purpose was to make the girl whole and well immediately.

In verse 51 we read, “And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, ‘Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.’”

Perhaps you can see that each of these sayings of Jesus can be taken in two ways. First, in a narrow and simple sense, they may be taken as words spoken to Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) and to the members of his household regarding the immediate circumstance of the death of his daughter. Secondly, in a broad and more complex sense, each of these sayings of Jesus may be taken as words spoken to all who come to him by faith hoping that he will free them and those they love from the chains of death. The words that Jesus spoke to Jairus (Ἰάϊρος) are the words that he speaks to all who come to him by faith.  “Do not fear; only believe, and [you] will be well.” And to those who have lost loved ones in the Lord, he says, “Do not weep, for [they are] not dead but sleeping” – sleep being a way of speaking about death. When Christ came into this world, he brought with him this good news, which is called the good news of the kingdom of God. 

In verse 53 we are told that those who were in the house mourning over the death of the girl  “laughed at him” when he said “she is not dead but sleeping” for they knew that she was dead. And so she was. But to Christ she was only sleeping and he came to wake her.  

*****

Jesus Demonstrated That He Has The Power To Free Us From Bondage To Death And From All Mourning

The third and final observation is that Jesus demonstrated that he has the power to free us from bondage to death and from all mourning. 

Verse 54: “But taking her by the hand he called, saying, ‘Child, arise.’ And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.” (Luke 8:54–56, ESV)

What a gift this was for this young girl and her family. Please hear me, brothers and sisters. What Christ did for this one girl at his first coming he will do for all who have faith in him at his second coming. 

To the young girl he said, “child, arise” and she arose. And to all who die having faith in Christ, he will, on the last day, say, “arise”. And we will rise bodily. This is what the Apostle Paul teaches in 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, saying, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers [and sisters], about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

When Christ spoke to the child, saying, “child, arise”, we are told that “her spirit returned, and she got up at once.” The thing that Christ did for this one child will be done to all on the resurrection day, which is also the day of judgment. At death, the spirit (or soul) of a person departs from the body. The souls of those who have faith in Christ go into the presence of God (now that Christ has been raised and has ascended). The souls of those who die in their sins go to punishment in Hades or Sheol. The bodies of all do rest in the grave. On the last day when Christ returns the bodies of all who have died will be raised from the grave and reunited with their souls. Those who have faith in Christ will be ushered into the new heavens and earth, body and soul. Those who died apart from Christ and in their sins will be judged and cast in hell. When Christ raised this young girl from the dead bodily, and when her soul returned to her body and she got up at once, we were given a little foretaste of the resurrection that will take place on the last day when Christ returns. 

Luke tells us that Christ directed those in the house to give the girl something to eat so that she might be strengthened and refreshed. And here we find a foreshadowing of what will be enjoyed by those who belong to Christ on the resurrection day. They will enter the new heavens and earth, and there they will enjoy the marriage supper of the lamb. The Apostle John was granted insight into this. Listen to Revelation 19:6-9: “Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true words of God’” (Revelation 19:6–9, ESV). So the order experienced by the girl when Christ raised her up is the order that will be experienced by all who are united to Christ by faith on that last day – she was raised bodily and then she ate. If we have faith in Christ, we too will be raised body and then we will eat – no, more than this we will feast with our God, with Christ our Redeemer, and with all he has redeemed. 

*****

Conclusion

Why did the eternal Word of God come into this world in the incarnation? He entered this house of death and mourning to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and to win the victory over sin, Satan, and even death itself so that he might set his people free and raise them up on the last day unto glory.  

List to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:20: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:20–26, ESV).

Friends, do you believe this? As you ponder baby Jesus this holiday season, do you also think of the man Jesus who raised this girl from the dead by the word of his power, who himself died and was raised from the dead on the third day, and who will one day return to raise the dead, to judge, and to usher his people into the inheritance he has earned for them?  Do you think of this Jesus – the man Jesus who is the person of the eternal Son incarnate – when you think of the baby Jesus? And do you believe in him? Do you trust him?

And if you trust him, do you heed his voice as he speaks to you, saying, Do not fear; only believe, and [all] will be well? 

Dear brethren, Christ has not promised to keep us from every difficulty or hardship. Yes, even the followers of Christ do pass from this world through the trial of death. But if Christ has won the victory over death for those who are his, then the sting of every affliction and even of death itself has been removed. 

This is what Paul the Apostle was reflecting upon when he wrote, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And listen to the application he makes: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:54–58, ESV).