Christ is Greater than Death
Christ is Greater Than Death
The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity – 9/20/2026
Luke 7:11-17
Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer
That portion from God’s holy Word is our reading from the holy Gospel according to St. Luke in the seventh chapter with special emphasis on verses fourteen and fifteen which read as follows:
“Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And [Jesus] 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.”[1]
Thus far the Scriptures.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Death is something often on my mind, particularly at this time of the year. I am not trying to sound morbid, but in my line of work, death is something that I encounter regularly. Indeed, we are going to bury a dear, sainted member of the church on Monday. I do not fixate on death because I like it, because I fear it, or because I have a morbid curiosity about it. Enough visits to the bedside of those who are in their last hours strips one of his curiosity about such things.
But death is not easily dismissed. It is relentless, hounding each and every one of us no matter what we might do to avoid it. It is greedy, it gobbles up men, women, and children; the young and old; the rich and poor. All will eventually be held by its cold embrace. Given enough experience with it and you too will find yourself thinking about it. And, I will admit, I do not like death. But even more, I do not want to meet it. It is not fear, not really, but that I know that death is often not pleasant and comes with great suffering. But the thing that most makes me pause, the one thing about death that grips me when it crosses my mind, is its inescapable nature.
No One Beats Death
No one beats death. None of us can avoid it. Each of us will meet it head on. Sure, there are things you can do to live a healthy life and extend your years on this earth. You can eat a good diet. You can get enough exercise. You can spend a pile of money on nutritionists, healers, and gurus. But you will still die.
I know this seems harsh, but it is not something we should be surprised by. St. Paul teaches us that each person who sins will be paid with death. Sin brings death and each of us, every human being, is a sinner who will die.
Reactions to Death
There are a few ways that people react to this news. Some do the ostrich, putting
their heads in the proverbial sand, hoping that by ignoring it that it will leave them alone. Others attempt to live life in a manner that gives them enough distraction to avoid thinking about uncomfortable things like death. It doesn’t much matter what the distraction is, just that it exists. Some prefer sports or media. Others like social gatherings. Some use career, family, or volunteering. The only important thing is that it provide a sufficient amount of distraction. Still others lie to themselves, claiming that their spiritual, physical, or mental work can overcome death and leave us outside of its grip. Extreme versions of this argue things like biohacking, transhumanism, or downloading one’s consciousness into machines. However, none of these things can prevent death.
No matter what we might do, we will be part of a funeral procession just like this widow either marching solemnly, in grief, in it or as the one whose funeral we go to celebrate.
The Solution to Death
It is entirely true that we cannot defeat death. But we also do not need to. Death is mighty among us, but it is powerless against God. The Creator, the Life-giver, He has mastery over death and life. Most people who admit the reality of God would admit this. After all, a God who does not have power over death is not much of a God.
What is surprising, however, is that this power held only by God is seen in the work of this man, Jesus. Jesus Christ does here something unmistakably divine; He removes death with a simple Word. He tells the young man to arise and he does. There is no fanfare, no extensive surgery, no interventions. He simply tells the young man to rise and death rolls away like a wave receding at the beach. The Lord of all heaven and earth walked confidently into a funeral and forced death to retreat. Death does not have the final Word, Christ does.
Our Lord met death at Nain. He stopped a funeral procession. Later, on Calvary, He joined one again. This time, He marched alone. Instead of a bier, He carried a cross. Death thought it had claimed its greatest prize yet. But it was death that was used to unmake death. Christ giving Himself into sin earned for you life, forgiveness and salvation. Death could not hold Him; Jesus rose again. And Jesus promises that death will not hold you, His Christians either.
This reaction of our Lord to this death is for a simple reason: He has compassion. I know that you Christians all know this. You’ve been hearing this for your entire lives. But think of how gods are portrayed in popular media and ancient myth. They do not care for people. At best, they find us to be an amusing distraction. Think even of those mortal men who have power and authority over us. How many of even these considerate of our condition or compassionate to us?
It is precisely because of compassion that our Lord Jesus Christ became man. Compassion is what bade Him to go to Calvary and lay down His life. Compassion is why He comes to you even now, putting you to death in your Baptism so that you can live with Him in eternity. Your Baptism joins you to your Lord’s death and resurrection. Your old sinful nature is put to death, and a new righteous man is raised, who receives everlasting life.
God is compassionate. He is moved by our suffering, our hardship, the horrors of our sins. His compassion bade Him to help this poor widow who lost her only son and whose economic future now lay uncertain.
God’s compassion is so much unlike ours. We tend to wield compassion performatively. We like to discuss it and post about it, but we are often hesitant to roll up our sleeves, put on our muck boots, and wade into the filth of sin and misery to extend it.
But Christ? He does exactly that. He did not become man to simply reveal Himself to us. He did not come simply to call us to greater faithfulness or more obedient living. No, He came here, to this earth, to us human beings as One of us to save us. God’s compassion is never performative. It is effective. And it has accomplished for you salvation, forgiveness, even the redemption of your whole person, both body and soul.
God has never promised us that you would be free from death, suffering, or hardship. But He does promise you that it will not hold you. Even more, He demonstrates that He has power over it. Here our Lord shows us that there is no power, no struggle, no enemy too great for Him. His people are under His care and protection. Therefore, though you may face death and even though it is a great enemy, Christ will bring you through it to Himself. It is powerless before Him. When He returns, He will say to you, “arise,” and you will rise in your bodies, revealing that death has never been greater than your Christ. And when He comes, death will finally be destroyed, totally and forever.
In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Luke 7:14-15 English Standard Version. All further quotations are either licensed from Concordia Publishing House or are in the public domain.
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