Funeral: Emery Gero

Martha had confidence in Jesus. She believed in him. When their brother Lazarus fell ill, Mary and Martha sent word to Galilee, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” If Jesus can heal blind people, he can probably help Lazarus.

But Jesus didn’t come immediately. He stayed where he was 2 more days. It’s one of those puzzling things in John’s gospel. Jesus could have spared Mary and Martha grief and trouble by coming to Bethany earlier. The sisters show their disappointment when Jesus finally arrives 4 days after Lazarus died. Word-for-word, they say the same thing, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

It makes you wonder how often they said that to each other while Lazarus was sick:

“If only Jesus were here, he could heal Lazarus.”

It’s why they sent the message to Galilee. I wonder how many times they said it while waiting. Did they tell each other and Lazarus,

“When Jesus comes, Lazarus will be healed.”

And then in the sadness of Lazarus’ last day, his funeral, and the days of mourning,

“If Jesus had been here, this would have been all different.”

Maybe you have some of the same regrets as Mary and Martha. Maybe you are puzzled by why Jesus didn’t rush to heal Emery OR, if God’s plan was to let Emery die, why did it take so long? Why did we need to watch Emery grow so weak and so fragile? Years with COPD and cancer, 20 days in the hospital, w/ all the pain and discomfort.

When you asked Emery how he was, how did he answer?

“I’m still here,” he’d say. Sometimes he sounded glad he was still here. Other times he sounded disappointed. “I’m still here.” Still in his home, still in his chair, and later still in the hospital, still in his bed.

There was a part of Emery that eagerly waited for the Lord to come and call him Home. He was eager to enter heaven’s throne room and join that great throng of Jesus’ disciples. He was eager to join Nancy and that great cloud of witnesses; to see Jesus face-to-face. Why it took so long was a mystery.

It’s like the mystery of Jesus staying in Galilee for 2 days. Why didn’t Jesus rush to Lazarus’ home in Bethany. We don’t always understand why God does what he does. His ways and reasons are beyond our understanding.

I talked about it with Emery. He sometimes mused, “I guess I still have stuff to do.” What stuff could Emery do?

Like Mary and Martha, Emery hung on to hope. He clung to his faith in Jesus. He stuck to it for the long haul, trusting God’s timing, trusting God’s promises. He’s an example; a saint.

Emery believes that he – and Nancy – will rise again at the resurrection at the last day. In the spring, we will bury Emery & Nancy in the Delmer graveyard. It’s like planting a seed.

When Jesus returns, Emery & Nancy and all of God’s people will be raised to life; eternal life w/ God. But it would be disappointing if Emery were raised to life w/o healthy lungs, strong legs and feet, and the powerful muscles he had as a young man. God’s word assures us that at the resurrection we will be changed. We will be glorified. In I Cor. 15, we read:

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. I Corinthians 15:42–44a (NIV)

We don’t have all the details, but it’ll be good. It’ll be glorious!

It’s why butterflies are a symbol of Chr. faith. Fat, slow caterpillars transform to beautiful butterflies.

The day of resurrection is what Martha is talking about when she responds to Jesus, “I know Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Emery believed the same thing. It is safe to die if you have faith in Jesus. Emery’s faith is built on what Jesus said to Martha:

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25–26 (NIV)

How is this possible? How can someone who believes in Jesus live, even though they die?

Death and the sting of death comes from sin. Our first parents were told that disobedience leads to death. It’s the same in every generation - failing to love and obey God as #1 and failing to love your neighbour as yourself breaks relationships: w/ neighbour and w/ God, who is the source of life and joy and all goodness. God always punishes sin. The punishment is death.

It’s not something we can fix ourselves. That’s why Martha’s expression of faith is so significant.

I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world. John 11:27 (NIV)

Jesus came as a powerful rescuer – truly God and truly human – to rescue us from sin and death.

Later in John’s gospel you can read how Jesus died on the cross and 3 days later arose. It’s his great victory over sin and death, freeing us from sin and death so we can live w/ God. John speaks of it earlier in the gospel:

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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16–17 (NIV)

This is why Jesus announces to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

You can read the rest of the story in John 11. Jesus goes to Lazarus’ tomb. Lazarus’ illness and death moves Jesus to tears. His friend that he loved was sick and died. Jesus felt all the sadness of it, just like we experience the sadness of Emery’s death.

Then Jesus intervenes. He does more than Mary and Martha hoped for or imagined. After he has the stone removed from Lazarus’ grave, Jesus calls him to come out – and Lazarus does. It’s a foretaste of that great day when Jesus returns to earth, when the trumpet call of God rings out, and the dead shall be raised to life.

Those who died in Christ shall rise first. Emery, Nancy, and all who have faith in Jesus as the resurrection and the life shall be raised to life. Emery believed this.

My message to you is not “don’t be sad,” but “don’t give up hope.” Put your trust in Jesus. Believe in him.

Through his sickness, Emery clung to God’s promises. What about you? Do you believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God? Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

“Whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.”