2026 Luke 7-2, "Young Man, I Say To You, Get Up!"
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2026-04-19 14:30
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"Young Man, I Say To You, Get Up!"
Luke 7:11-17
1. Do not cry (11–13)
Look at verse 11. “Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.” Jesus healed a dying servant of the Roman centurion. Many people saw the miracle Then they followed Jesus. It was a procession of joy, hope and eternity because there was Jesus.
In verse 12, we see another large crowd. “As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.” One procession is following Jesus and the other procession is following the dead man. One procession is full of joy and hope and the other procession is full of sorrow and despair. All human beings are following either the procession of life in Jesus or the procession of death. What are you following?
Nain means ‘pleasant.’ People in Nain would expect joyful life events. But everyone fell into deep despair by the tragic event of the widow. A loud and bitter crying of the mother was echoing throughout the city. This is the world we live in.
We expect joyful, hopeful and good life events. But we face sad reality; murder, rape, drug addicts, suicide, inequality, war, famine, diseases, financial instability, job uncertainty, failure and so on. And we lose something precious continually until we die.
A young man died. Then all people in Nain followed the bier of the dead young man. Isn’t it tragicomedy? Why are the living following the dead? It really shows man’s tragic reality. We hear the news of death every day from everywhere. Sooner or later, you and I will follow it.
Who died? Was he an old man? The death of an old man is, though it is sad, still acceptable. However, he was a young man. He is most likely a teenager or early twenties. Death is cruel. Death took a young man’s life ahead of his mother, a widow. How cruel!
The number one stress for a woman is the death of her children and the number two stress is the death of her husband. Now the woman lost both her husband and only son. It was absolutely devastating. Her son’s death deprived her of everything.
Who is the widow? You and I. If we are honest, what hope do we have? How weak and vulnerable are you and I? We want to live a meaningful, honest and fruitful life. But we are surrounded by many thorns and thistles. We are too weak to serve and fulfill God's will.
Nain is 40 Km away from Capernaum, a two-day walking distance. Why did Jesus go there? It was too stop the procession of the death. It was to comfort the widow. And it was to raise they young man. Jesus is the One who comes to give man life, joy, comfort and hope.
Verse 13 says, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” ‘Went out’ is in Greek, ‘esplankniste’ meaning, ‘gut-wrenching pain.’ The Son of God felt deep pain when he saw the bitterly crying woman who lost both her husband and the only son. And he said, “Don’t cry.” Why?
It is because she met Jesus, the Lord of life and resurrection. Humanly the woman had all reasons to cry. To Jesus, however, she had no reason to cry because Jesus was in front of her to set her free from the power of death.
We often cry when we lose something precious. I saw one a student’s tears when he became seriously ill that he had to quit his study. I saw a woman’s tears when she had no confidence to marry. I saw a student’s tears when he failed a crucial exam. I saw a father’s tears who lost his job in his forties. They have enough reasons to cry. But today we hear from Jesus, “Do not cry.”
Many people misunderstand that the meaning of life is to gain more-good degree, career, family, good income, good house, good trip and so on. They become sad when they fail to gain some or more. But the meaning of life is not in gaining more in this word. Rather it is to lose something belonging to this world and gain Jesus, the Lord of life and resurrection.
I lost youth. I lost some muscle tones. My two sons left me. My parents, 90 years old are very weak and sick. I felt sad. But Jesus has told me, “Don’t cry.” I have realized that I need to do practice of losing on earth to be free for eternity. Eventually I will leave this world with nothing. Our Lord Jesus has given me peace, passion and a new attitude toward life. In my life until late 40, I tried to gain something and God blessed me. But now I practice to lose-time and material for God and campus young people.
Jesus says to the woman, “Don’t cry,” because he loves her and wants to give her the best, resurrection and Jesus himself. Don’t cry when you lose something. Instead, listen to Jesus and meet him. He is merciful to you and will give you the best gift.
2. Young man, get up (14~17)
Verse 14 says, “Then he went up and touched the bier.” Though touching the bier was forbidden by law, Jesus touched what was considered unclean. This is Jesus’ sacrifice to save a dead young man.
I could imagine Jesus’ heart when he saw a young man in the coffin. “Young man, why are you lying down there?” Youth period is the most energetic and lively in one’s life time. Youth is the time of passion, courage, adventure and vision. P. Spurgeon began to deliver sermons at 17. Livingstone went to Africa as a missionary at 23. Alexander the Great who began to conquer the world at 20 said, “The greatest treasure is the dream within me. Because I have a dream, I exist today, and my future exists. The one who endures and overcomes hardship is a true human.” But this young man was lying in a coffin, confined in a dark box, no passion, strength, vitality, response and vision. Jesus must have been very sorry.
I feel sorry when I see some young men who have no passion, making continual excuses, hard-working spirit and vision. They are young but their mentality is old-lazy, slow, passive, self-centered, and often making a sigh. Young man must live with young spirit. Young men should be dynamic, passionate and visionary. Young men should not be afraid of failure and losing. Young men should study hard and dream about a bright future and do the work of God actively. Young men should have a vision of evangelizing the whole world.
Sadly, however many are confined in a room like a dark box daydreaming or worrying or seeking petty pleasures. Many are confined in their phones.
Here in April, the season of vitality and beauty, a young man lies in a coffin. “Hey, with spring retreat coming up, why are you lying there?” He is no longer a young man.
Today, we still hear Jesus calling him “young man.” Jesus still sees him a young man. Jesus sees him a key figure of the future. This is Jesus’ hope and vision for that young man.
Deuteronomy 32 has a story about a mother eagle and its young eagle. The young eagle is happy in a cozy nest built by its mother eagle, “I like here, very comfortable.” Soon, the mother eagle pecks at the young eagle’s leg. Then, the young eagle screams, “Ouch, mom, that hurts,” and leaves the nest, flapping its weak wings and finally begins to fly. Until the young eagle flies, it does not know it can fly because it has never flown before. Once the young eagle flies in the sky, it becomes the king of the sky.
An eagle has feet, so it can walk. It also has talons, so it can hang. But if an eagle just walks and hangs without flying in the sky, it is no different from sparrow or chicken. Walking or hanging is not the best form for an eagle. An eagle must soar freely and powerfully through the open sky.
God has a purpose for you. Just walking? Hanging? Just struggling or worrying about what to eat and where to live? No. It is to fly into the whole world. Therefore, do not live like a sick chick or a young man lying in a coffin making sigh when your life is tough or you are challenged by some hardships.
In a competitive society, there are young people who see themselves as dropouts or failures. They are young in age, yet they live like the elderly. Many young people are unaware of how great their potential is.
There is an interesting conversation between a father camel and a son camel at a zoo. “Dad, why do we have two big humps on our backs?” “Son, they are storehouses of food and water to overcome hunger and thirst in the desert.” “Dad, why are my eyelashes so long?” “It is to overcome the sandstorms of the desert.” “Dad, why are my toes stuck together like duck feet?” “It is to avoid sinking into the sandy paths of the desert." The son camel said, “Then, why do we live in a zoo?"
The camel is an animal optimized for living in the desert. God designed the camel to live in the desert. God gave them everything to do tremendous work in spite of tough environments. Then, shouldn’t they be in the desert?
God has given us His image, mission and provision. And our Lord, Jesus promises, “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, then everything will be given to you as well.” With the image of God and his promise, we will never fail nor starve to death. Then why are some young people worried endlessly? Why are they not responding to God’s calling and His holy mission? Why are they lying in their small room like the young man in a coffin? Would you just study, work, make money, travel, eat, drink, sleep, have funs and worry and finish your life? Young men, you have the capacity to soar highly like eagles. Therefore, through worship, prayer and doing gospel work, fly highly with vision and passion for the glory of God and for their neighbours.
One day, a young man failed to catch fish though he worked hard throughout all night. He became very depressed, tired and worried. He was like the dead young man in the coffin. Jesus challenged him, “Young man, put out into deep water and let down net for a catch.” Then he tried again and caught a large number of fish. Then Jesus said to him, “From now on you will be catching men!”
Jesus called several young men, “Young men, you are the light and salt of the world. Go to the whole world and make disciples of all nations.”
Young men, you are the light and salt of the world. The world is dark and corrupt. Now, you are to shine the light of Jesus on this dark world and prevent the world from becoming corrupt. Paul said to a young man, Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the gospel in season and out of season.” Young men, do you know this is God’s calling for you? Jesus is now calling you from heaven, “Young man!” Jesus wants you to recover your identity and spirit as young man and live a life worthy of a youth.
God does not want young men to lie down in a coffin. God’s expectation for young men is indeed great. That is why God commands, “Noah, go to the mountain and build an ark to save the world.” Noah was righteous, blameless and faithful to God in his generation. He could have been contented. But God’s hope for him was even bigger to save the world by building an ark. God said to Moses, “Go to Egypt and save my people.” To them, these were very difficult tasks. “Lord, why do you tell me to do that?” Why? Because God wants you to soar like an eagle in the sky.
By getting up from his comfort zone, Noah built an ark for 120 years. He became the first one in history who saved mankind from God’s punishment. Moses went and defeated Pharaoh and saved two million people.
Folks, do you know that the power and time you possess is limited? You do not have infinite power and time. There are people who use all of this limited power and time just to walk and hang. No, use your time and strength to soar like an eagle to take care of both your garden and the garden of God.
Jesus said, “Young man! I say to you Get up!” Here, pay attention to Jesus’ words “I say to you,” Jesus spoke directly to the dead man and woke him up. Jesus’ words of life penetrated the strong wall of death and reached to the dead man’s ears. The dead young man heard the voice of Jesus and sat up and began to talk. We do not know what he had talked before he was dead. Maybe, complaining words with his fatherless poor human life, maybe disobedient words toward his nagging mother, maybe cursing words or maybe gossiping words. But after he was raised to life, he must have talked the word of thankfulness and love, “Thank God. I love you mom. I will do the great work of God.” Jesus is the author of life and the life-giver. Whoever hears the voice of the Son of God will rise again.
Young men must get up from their coffin of worry, fear, petty desires. Young men must see visions. If you feel that your soul, mind or body is dead or broken, first listen to the voice of Jesus. If there is someone around you who is dead, bring them to Jesus. Jesus will bring you and them back to life. Young man is the hope and future of this society. If young men are lying in a coffin seeking only self-centered security or pleasures without devotion and prayer, there is no hope in church, campus and the world. May God’s word powerfully touch your soul and body today.
Luke 7:11-17
1. Do not cry (11–13)
Look at verse 11. “Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.” Jesus healed a dying servant of the Roman centurion. Many people saw the miracle Then they followed Jesus. It was a procession of joy, hope and eternity because there was Jesus.
In verse 12, we see another large crowd. “As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.” One procession is following Jesus and the other procession is following the dead man. One procession is full of joy and hope and the other procession is full of sorrow and despair. All human beings are following either the procession of life in Jesus or the procession of death. What are you following?
Nain means ‘pleasant.’ People in Nain would expect joyful life events. But everyone fell into deep despair by the tragic event of the widow. A loud and bitter crying of the mother was echoing throughout the city. This is the world we live in.
We expect joyful, hopeful and good life events. But we face sad reality; murder, rape, drug addicts, suicide, inequality, war, famine, diseases, financial instability, job uncertainty, failure and so on. And we lose something precious continually until we die.
A young man died. Then all people in Nain followed the bier of the dead young man. Isn’t it tragicomedy? Why are the living following the dead? It really shows man’s tragic reality. We hear the news of death every day from everywhere. Sooner or later, you and I will follow it.
Who died? Was he an old man? The death of an old man is, though it is sad, still acceptable. However, he was a young man. He is most likely a teenager or early twenties. Death is cruel. Death took a young man’s life ahead of his mother, a widow. How cruel!
The number one stress for a woman is the death of her children and the number two stress is the death of her husband. Now the woman lost both her husband and only son. It was absolutely devastating. Her son’s death deprived her of everything.
Who is the widow? You and I. If we are honest, what hope do we have? How weak and vulnerable are you and I? We want to live a meaningful, honest and fruitful life. But we are surrounded by many thorns and thistles. We are too weak to serve and fulfill God's will.
Nain is 40 Km away from Capernaum, a two-day walking distance. Why did Jesus go there? It was too stop the procession of the death. It was to comfort the widow. And it was to raise they young man. Jesus is the One who comes to give man life, joy, comfort and hope.
Verse 13 says, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” ‘Went out’ is in Greek, ‘esplankniste’ meaning, ‘gut-wrenching pain.’ The Son of God felt deep pain when he saw the bitterly crying woman who lost both her husband and the only son. And he said, “Don’t cry.” Why?
It is because she met Jesus, the Lord of life and resurrection. Humanly the woman had all reasons to cry. To Jesus, however, she had no reason to cry because Jesus was in front of her to set her free from the power of death.
We often cry when we lose something precious. I saw one a student’s tears when he became seriously ill that he had to quit his study. I saw a woman’s tears when she had no confidence to marry. I saw a student’s tears when he failed a crucial exam. I saw a father’s tears who lost his job in his forties. They have enough reasons to cry. But today we hear from Jesus, “Do not cry.”
Many people misunderstand that the meaning of life is to gain more-good degree, career, family, good income, good house, good trip and so on. They become sad when they fail to gain some or more. But the meaning of life is not in gaining more in this word. Rather it is to lose something belonging to this world and gain Jesus, the Lord of life and resurrection.
I lost youth. I lost some muscle tones. My two sons left me. My parents, 90 years old are very weak and sick. I felt sad. But Jesus has told me, “Don’t cry.” I have realized that I need to do practice of losing on earth to be free for eternity. Eventually I will leave this world with nothing. Our Lord Jesus has given me peace, passion and a new attitude toward life. In my life until late 40, I tried to gain something and God blessed me. But now I practice to lose-time and material for God and campus young people.
Jesus says to the woman, “Don’t cry,” because he loves her and wants to give her the best, resurrection and Jesus himself. Don’t cry when you lose something. Instead, listen to Jesus and meet him. He is merciful to you and will give you the best gift.
2. Young man, get up (14~17)
Verse 14 says, “Then he went up and touched the bier.” Though touching the bier was forbidden by law, Jesus touched what was considered unclean. This is Jesus’ sacrifice to save a dead young man.
I could imagine Jesus’ heart when he saw a young man in the coffin. “Young man, why are you lying down there?” Youth period is the most energetic and lively in one’s life time. Youth is the time of passion, courage, adventure and vision. P. Spurgeon began to deliver sermons at 17. Livingstone went to Africa as a missionary at 23. Alexander the Great who began to conquer the world at 20 said, “The greatest treasure is the dream within me. Because I have a dream, I exist today, and my future exists. The one who endures and overcomes hardship is a true human.” But this young man was lying in a coffin, confined in a dark box, no passion, strength, vitality, response and vision. Jesus must have been very sorry.
I feel sorry when I see some young men who have no passion, making continual excuses, hard-working spirit and vision. They are young but their mentality is old-lazy, slow, passive, self-centered, and often making a sigh. Young man must live with young spirit. Young men should be dynamic, passionate and visionary. Young men should not be afraid of failure and losing. Young men should study hard and dream about a bright future and do the work of God actively. Young men should have a vision of evangelizing the whole world.
Sadly, however many are confined in a room like a dark box daydreaming or worrying or seeking petty pleasures. Many are confined in their phones.
Here in April, the season of vitality and beauty, a young man lies in a coffin. “Hey, with spring retreat coming up, why are you lying there?” He is no longer a young man.
Today, we still hear Jesus calling him “young man.” Jesus still sees him a young man. Jesus sees him a key figure of the future. This is Jesus’ hope and vision for that young man.
Deuteronomy 32 has a story about a mother eagle and its young eagle. The young eagle is happy in a cozy nest built by its mother eagle, “I like here, very comfortable.” Soon, the mother eagle pecks at the young eagle’s leg. Then, the young eagle screams, “Ouch, mom, that hurts,” and leaves the nest, flapping its weak wings and finally begins to fly. Until the young eagle flies, it does not know it can fly because it has never flown before. Once the young eagle flies in the sky, it becomes the king of the sky.
An eagle has feet, so it can walk. It also has talons, so it can hang. But if an eagle just walks and hangs without flying in the sky, it is no different from sparrow or chicken. Walking or hanging is not the best form for an eagle. An eagle must soar freely and powerfully through the open sky.
God has a purpose for you. Just walking? Hanging? Just struggling or worrying about what to eat and where to live? No. It is to fly into the whole world. Therefore, do not live like a sick chick or a young man lying in a coffin making sigh when your life is tough or you are challenged by some hardships.
In a competitive society, there are young people who see themselves as dropouts or failures. They are young in age, yet they live like the elderly. Many young people are unaware of how great their potential is.
There is an interesting conversation between a father camel and a son camel at a zoo. “Dad, why do we have two big humps on our backs?” “Son, they are storehouses of food and water to overcome hunger and thirst in the desert.” “Dad, why are my eyelashes so long?” “It is to overcome the sandstorms of the desert.” “Dad, why are my toes stuck together like duck feet?” “It is to avoid sinking into the sandy paths of the desert." The son camel said, “Then, why do we live in a zoo?"
The camel is an animal optimized for living in the desert. God designed the camel to live in the desert. God gave them everything to do tremendous work in spite of tough environments. Then, shouldn’t they be in the desert?
God has given us His image, mission and provision. And our Lord, Jesus promises, “Seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, then everything will be given to you as well.” With the image of God and his promise, we will never fail nor starve to death. Then why are some young people worried endlessly? Why are they not responding to God’s calling and His holy mission? Why are they lying in their small room like the young man in a coffin? Would you just study, work, make money, travel, eat, drink, sleep, have funs and worry and finish your life? Young men, you have the capacity to soar highly like eagles. Therefore, through worship, prayer and doing gospel work, fly highly with vision and passion for the glory of God and for their neighbours.
One day, a young man failed to catch fish though he worked hard throughout all night. He became very depressed, tired and worried. He was like the dead young man in the coffin. Jesus challenged him, “Young man, put out into deep water and let down net for a catch.” Then he tried again and caught a large number of fish. Then Jesus said to him, “From now on you will be catching men!”
Jesus called several young men, “Young men, you are the light and salt of the world. Go to the whole world and make disciples of all nations.”
Young men, you are the light and salt of the world. The world is dark and corrupt. Now, you are to shine the light of Jesus on this dark world and prevent the world from becoming corrupt. Paul said to a young man, Timothy, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the gospel in season and out of season.” Young men, do you know this is God’s calling for you? Jesus is now calling you from heaven, “Young man!” Jesus wants you to recover your identity and spirit as young man and live a life worthy of a youth.
God does not want young men to lie down in a coffin. God’s expectation for young men is indeed great. That is why God commands, “Noah, go to the mountain and build an ark to save the world.” Noah was righteous, blameless and faithful to God in his generation. He could have been contented. But God’s hope for him was even bigger to save the world by building an ark. God said to Moses, “Go to Egypt and save my people.” To them, these were very difficult tasks. “Lord, why do you tell me to do that?” Why? Because God wants you to soar like an eagle in the sky.
By getting up from his comfort zone, Noah built an ark for 120 years. He became the first one in history who saved mankind from God’s punishment. Moses went and defeated Pharaoh and saved two million people.
Folks, do you know that the power and time you possess is limited? You do not have infinite power and time. There are people who use all of this limited power and time just to walk and hang. No, use your time and strength to soar like an eagle to take care of both your garden and the garden of God.
Jesus said, “Young man! I say to you Get up!” Here, pay attention to Jesus’ words “I say to you,” Jesus spoke directly to the dead man and woke him up. Jesus’ words of life penetrated the strong wall of death and reached to the dead man’s ears. The dead young man heard the voice of Jesus and sat up and began to talk. We do not know what he had talked before he was dead. Maybe, complaining words with his fatherless poor human life, maybe disobedient words toward his nagging mother, maybe cursing words or maybe gossiping words. But after he was raised to life, he must have talked the word of thankfulness and love, “Thank God. I love you mom. I will do the great work of God.” Jesus is the author of life and the life-giver. Whoever hears the voice of the Son of God will rise again.
Young men must get up from their coffin of worry, fear, petty desires. Young men must see visions. If you feel that your soul, mind or body is dead or broken, first listen to the voice of Jesus. If there is someone around you who is dead, bring them to Jesus. Jesus will bring you and them back to life. Young man is the hope and future of this society. If young men are lying in a coffin seeking only self-centered security or pleasures without devotion and prayer, there is no hope in church, campus and the world. May God’s word powerfully touch your soul and body today.