REST BEYOND THE RIVER

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

To Sister Anita, DeSean, and Aneisha along with all the family and friend gathered here today. We have come to this place today to do two things. First, we have come to say thank you to Our Gracious God who blessed and enriched our lives by allowing us the pleasure of sharing in the life of our beloved brother Edward Lowry. Come on and give the Lord a praise...

Next we have come to stand by and support our widowed Sister and this precious family as they bid fare-thee-well to their loved one. We should also take this opportunity today to remember: “blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.”

So many wonderful things have already been spoken about Brother Lowry that I dare not impose upon you with mine. Instead can I invite your attention to the Holy book for a word of encouragement.

Deuteronomy 12:10 NIV

10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.

CROSSING THE JORDAN

The association of the Jordan River with death and dying is well established within older English-speaking Protestant thinking. Five points to consider:

Crossing the river as a metaphor for dying

has ancient roots in Western thought (see below).

The immense popularity of John Bunyan’s allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress.

In this story, published in 1678, the everyman Christian journeys to salvation. His fearful crossing of a dark river in order to attain the Celestial City is an allegory of dying before reaching eternal life in Heaven.

The Pilgrim’s Progress was also conceived as a metaphorical retelling

of the journey of the Hebrews out of captivity in Egypt to the Promised Land. After 40 years of wandering they finally crossed the Jordan river and reached Canaan, the Promised Land.

Later Protestant Christians saw themselves as the spiritual heirs of the ancient Hebrews.

Their lives recapitulated the journeys of the Hebrews, out of the captivity of sin (Egypt) towards the Promised Land of Heaven (Canaan) after dying (crossing the Jordan).

Long after Bunyan, Protestants continued to use the metaphor.

The Rev. Samuel Stennett published “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks” in 1787: On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, And cast a wishful eye To Canaan’s fair and happy land, Where my possessions lie.

The American hymn writer Frances J. Crosby van Alstyne copied the imagery from The Pilgrim’s Progress in 1869: Near the cross I’ll watch and wait Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river.

CAN I GO ONE STEP FURTHER?

REST

The text says and he will give you rest…

Rest represents a break from physical labor and worldly striving. It provides a time for mental and spiritual restoration. In the midst of the sufferings and struggles of existence, people may long for rest. Rest requires a safe place, so the concept may be used to indicate peace and possession of the land on which to rest (e.g., Josh 1:15). The promised land symbolizes God’s promise of rest after Israel’s time of wandering in the wilderness (Deut 12:10). Death, as the ultimate end to all earthly striving, is also regularly described as a time of rest. See Job 3:17; Rev 14:13

Deuteronomy 12:10 LEB

10 But you will cross the Jordan, and you will settle in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give rest to you from all your enemies from all around, and you will live securely,

Job 3:17 LEB

17 There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest;

Revelation 14:13 LEB

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “in order that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow after them.”

Fanny Crosby words in her famous hymn is certainly apropos concerning Bro Edward today.

We believe that he has crossed through Jordan’s chilly tide and stepped into the promised land called heaven.