Vicki Cooper Funeral

Her Mission was to Increase Joy.

Vicki was one of the most delightful people that I’ve ever known. She was just an easy person to be around, and she wanted you to feel special. Even if she had to exaggerate! When Vicki was able to attend, she and Jody were always there. And, I don’t know that there was a Sunday that went by when Vicki didn’t make it a point after the sermon to make a beeline for me just to encouragement. And, I know she was exaggerating, but it made me feel so good. She’d say, “You’re the best preacher that I’ve ever heard. I just love to hear you. I’m so glad you’re here.” This wasn’t just here and there. This was EVERY week!

Vicki made it her mission to bring more joy into my life. And, it worked! You know, that’s the kind of person that I want to be. I want to live as the kind of person who has as their mission a desire to increase joy. Vicki recognized that she had a responsibility to use the life that she had and the time that she had and the smile that she had to show others how good Jesus really is. And, she didn’t do this through her strength. Vicki would tell you she wasn’t very strong. And, she didn’t do this through her perfection. Vicki would tell you she wasn’t perfect. Vicki did this through her weakness by demonstrating humbly that there was One who was with her who was strong and perfect and glorious. Her weakness only showed how good and great He really is.

That’s Paul’s point in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 (ESV)

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

So, he says, we have this treasure of immeasurable value (gospel) in these clay jars (our bodies, our lives). We’re carrying around these diamonds in tiny, cardboard boxes. For Paul, comparing himself, and in fact all Christians, to ‘jars of clay’ is not a particularly flattering comparison. First of all, clay jars were cheap. This was a lowly comparison. This wasn’t exactly fine china that he was comparing himself too. When we excavate ruins today, much of what we find are old clay shards that are lying around because everyone had them. Every peasant could afford or at least make themselves some clay jars. So, Paul is, in essence saying, I’m no better than any other messenger or any other container of this treasure. Every messenger, every container of the gospel is equally unworthy of the magnificent treasure that it contains. Vicki was humble that way, wasn’t she? She never put on airs or thought she was better than another. She was understated, seeking to lower herself and to elevate others.

Not only do ‘jars of clay’ show lowliness, but they also show how fragile Paul is. Clay jars were very prone to get cracks or to break, and this is at the forefront of Paul’s mind here. He is very much saying that he is always cracking, always leaking, always coming apart. He seems to always need to be replaced.

Vicki’s dementia has been hard for all of us who love her. It’s a reminder of how fragile these clay pots are that we have. It’s a reminder of how dependent we are upon Christ. But, here’s what I want you to see: today, it’s clear to Vicki. Her dementia did not diminish her in the eyes of God. It was used by God to communicate his glory, to remind us that the best of us are week, to remind us that our hope is not found within ourselves, but in Christ.

Cracked Jars Showcase God’s Power

“to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us” But, there’s a powerful “why” behind all of this that Paul wants them to see. There’s a reason that God put his treasure in clay pots. There’s a reason that we carry this diamond in a cardboard box. He says in verse one that ‘we have this in ‘jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.’ That is, the weakness of the container, the weakness of the messenger puts on showcase the power of the Treasure. Paul is afflicted, but Paul is not crushed! Why? Because God is with him, and God’s power surpasses all these things. Paul is perplexed and Paul is stressed, but Paul is not overcome. How is Paul not overcome? How is Paul able to keep on going? How is Paul so strong? Paul isn’t strong at all! It is the surpassing power of God holding him together! Paul is being persecuted, Paul is being struck down, but he is not forsaken and he will not be destroyed! How can we be so sure? How can we know? Because the surpassing power of God is being made apparent through this cracking pot named Paul who would come apart were not for the surpassing power of God! You see, it’s not the pot keeping the Treasure safe; it’s the Treasure that’s holding the pot together.

You see, Vicki knew she was fragile and limited. Vicki knew that she wouldn’t live forever. Vicki knew that she wasn’t the source of her strength. She was a vessel — a clay pot — for a greater treasure. That’s why she made it her mission to increase the joy of others. God had given to her his joy, and she wanted to pass it along to us.

“always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies” At the end of verse 10 and verse 11, he states basically the same thing, but in a different way. He says, “We’re always carrying Jesus’ death in the body on one hand, but we’re doing that so that the life of Jesus’ resurrection might be made clear on the other.” You see, the reason that the baby came to Bethlehem, the reason that virgin gave birth to a child was because we were ‘afflicted in every way.’ There’s dementia, difficulty, and death. And, we were going to be crushed. We were perplexed and headed for despair. Do you understand that? But, Christ came! And for now, we still face the realities of his cross. We still walk in the likeness of his death. We will still know cross realities — hardships. But, we never face hardship, never face the realities of the cross without the light of resurrection and life. In the list that Paul gives, he lists both cross realities and resurrection realities, but, brothers and sisters, the glory is that the cross is giving way to the resurrection because Christ has come. Death is beating us down, but life is in us. Death is breaking us down, but life is holding us up. Our temporary dying is working to prove Jesus’ eternal power to uphold life. That is, satan’s greatest weapon and man’s greatest curse is being manipulated as Christ’s greatest demonstration of power and glory.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (ESV)

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

“So we do not lose heart” Paul says: The weight of our afflictions is a matter of perspective. So, I want to make Paul’s point my point. “Do not lose heart.” Today is difficult. It’s a day in which your heart is pierced and stomach is knotted. But, don’t lose heart. This momentary affliction feels heavy but is actually light. How can such a seemingly impossible burden be considered light? This pain is ‘momentary’ and ‘transient’ but the glory that Vicki has received is eternal. It’s forever. She’s blessed FOREVER! The glory available in Christ does not end. Secondly, they are tiny when placed beside the glory Vicki has received, and you will receive if you repent of your sin and follow Jesus. They look big until you see how much bigger the glory is. Dementia is devastating. Death is heartbreaking. But, they are small in comparison to the reward Vicki now has! They are small in comparison to the crown of unfading glory that he has now received! Vicki was joyful, but now, she is gloriously, eternally, and perfectly joyful!