And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.

And he said, Young man. I say unto thee, Arise. Luke 7:14

 

          Remember Leave It To Beaver? Ward comes home from the office and June meets him at the door heels a dress and pearls wearing an apron. He can tell by the look on her face that Wally or The Beave have been in some kind of trouble. I can hear that parental loving yet stern tone as he asked, Young man, what have you got to say for yourself?

      The bier is what the body is carried on in the funeral procession full of wailing and tears. The priests dare not touch it. But Christ did. This funeral was for a widow’s only son. A widow back then was dependent on her children for her livelihood. She would not have been able to go down to the local social security office and apply for widow’s benefits and there would have been no life insurance policy. It was a pretty desperate situation.

     Jesus walked right into this desperation and addressed the widow. He told her not to weep but I believe He said it in such a way that meant she would not have need for tears anymore. Then He stops the funeral procession and His thoughts may have gone something like this, Excuse me but your mother has need of you. How dare you die and leave her alone. What have you got to say for yourself young man?  But what He says is what is recorded, “Young man … Arise.”

      What issue does the Father want to lovingly, yet sternly deal with in your life today? 

      Do you hear Him saying, Young man, young lady what do you have to say for yourself?