John 14_1_6 Larry Scarbourgh Funeral

John 14:1-6 “Home Coming” Funeral for Larry D. Scarborough (died 2/23) (services 2/26)

In Aug of 2020 I sat down with Larry and we spoke about faith and a personal relationship with Jesus, he told me that he had a relationship with Jesus by grace through faith….. Today we are here to worship the Lord Jesus; through Jesus what lays here is the shell that once housed Larry’s soul. Today, His soul is very much alive and in the very presence of God.

I’m reminded of a grave marker in Wetumpka Alabama that reads; “Here lies Solomon Peas, under the lilies and under the trees, Peas is not here, only the Pod… Peas has shelled out and gone home to God.

Larry Knew the Lord Jesus, his account was settled at the cross… because of that he is alive with Jesus today. You see Larry has simply changed residents, he has gone to live with the Lord.

Jesus has promised us peace (1)

To lose a love one is difficult but in the midst of this you can have peace, by trusting in the Lord! Jesus (Ch. 13) has just told His disciples that He was going away and that where He was going away. Butt He leaves them a word of Comfort and a promise to cling unto to. He says “don’t be troubled,” be faithful! Believe means “complete trust.” When we have complete trust in Jesus we throw all of our weight onto Him and He comforts in our times of afflictions. In vs. 19-20 Jesus explains how this can be. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day (when I am raised to life again) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”

Peace is not the absence of sorrows but the presence of Jesus! Palsm 23:4 says “Yea though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.” Jesus doesn’t promise that that life won’t be hard, but He does promise that you won’t have to face it without Him. Simply Trust Jesus!

Jesus has prepared us a place (2-3)

The Bible tells us that Jesus has personally prepared a place in His Father’s house for those who trust in Him. The word mansion means a “dwelling place.” This is not a shack outback but a room in the house of God! A place for you and a place for me!

The Bible tells us that in six days God created the heaven and the earth, but just think, Jesus has been preparing a place for us for two thousand years. WHAT A PLACE THAT MUST BE! And the best part, He will receive us and we will be in His physical presence.

Jesus has paved us a path (6)

We are all travelers on the road that leads from life to eternity. There are many side streets and wrong turns. We don’t want to make the wrong turn and be lost. All we need to do is follow Jesus. He is the way. He will lead us.

I recall the story of E. Stanly Jones the missionary in Africa who became lost in the jungle, he could find no landmarks and the trail had vanished. Eventually he stumbled upon a lone hut and asked the native to lead him out of the jungle. The native nodded and rose to his feet and walked into the bush. The missionary was hot on his heels. After an hour of hacking their way through walls of vines and grasses Jones became worried and said “are you sure this is the way? I don’t see any paths” The native chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.”

Conclusion: In closing – remember the Bible teaches us that:

Death is not the end but the beginning

Death is not a loss but a gain (Phil. 1:21)

Death is not a defeat but a victory (1 Cor. 15:56)

Joseph Jennings when on the verge of that glorious world to which your loved one has already gone exclaimed “Oh how beautiful! What a morning:” His weeping wife, not seeing what he saw, said “shall I open the shutters so you can get a better view?” “Oh,” he said, “I have seen a great way beyond the shutters.”

We need to look beyond the shutters of this world and see Jesus. Let us look to Him as our comfort and as our Savior. In Matthew 14:12 speaking of the death of John the Baptist, it says. “And his disciples came and took up the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.” Let us turn to Jesus this hour and tell Him. He cares.