Warren Funeral

Introduction:

In difficult times it is natural for us to seek answers to some of life’s deepest questions. Jesus understood that His disciples would face just this sort of search as He prepared to leave them for the cross and ultimately His resurrection and ascension.

They, no doubt, had a multitude of questions as Jesus explained God’s plan for His life.

John 14:1–6 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We must begin our search with a belief in God - John 14:1

John 14:1 NIV

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Faith, or belief in God demands two critical beliefs:

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We must believe in His existence

Evidences for the existence of God

The sheer complexity and vastness of our known world demands a designer and not an accident

A holy God is essential to a standard of truth and morality essential to our world to function

We must believe in his beneficent nature

Evidences for His beneficent nature

Creation provides us with all we need for our existence

God demonstration of His love in sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins and give us eternal life is the ultimate gift - John 3:16

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Our search must next accept that there is an afterlife ensured by Christ’s resurrection and ascension - John 14:2

John 14:2 NIV

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most documented facts in antiquity

The empty tomb of Jesus was documented by, not only His followers but also others without any other acceptable explanation

Ample witnesses testified to the resurrection within the lifetime of the disciples

This afterlife is beyond our wildest imagination

We must believe Jesus’ promise to return to bring us to be with Him - John 14:3

John 14:3 NIV

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Paul expressed it this way:

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 NIV

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

This reunification with Jesus and with our loved ones is essential to our comfort in times like these - 1 Thess 4:17-18

1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 NIV

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Thomas proceeded to ask Jesus the way to where He is going

Jesus defines the faith that is necessary to have this assurance - John 14:6

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus is the only way to God - Only Jesus can address the sinfulness of the human race

Jesus is the truth - His claims are not exclusionary if they are truth

Ex. His claims to be God are only blasphemy (as He was accused of) if it is not true

Jesus is the life - Jesus alone has the keys to eternal life - John 17:2-3

John 17:2–3 NIV

For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.