Funeral John 11

Welcome /Prayer

Obiturary

Song - Precious Lord Take My Hand

Shared Memory

Jack Ison

Song - Amazing Grace

Message

Song - In the Garden

Funeral Welcome

II Corinthians 5:1-10

Our Bodies are Temporary. (1-4)

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Paul explains the body is simply a temporary dwelling place.

II. Our God is Good. (5-8)

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Paul tells of his eagerness to be with the Lord. God is Faithful to be there when we are absent from the body.

SONG:

I MUST TELL JESUS ALL OF MY TRIALS

I CANNOT BEAR MY BURDENS ALONE

IN MY DISTRESS HE KINDLY WILL HELP ME

HE EVER LOVES AND CARES FOR HIS OWN.

III. Our Lives can make a Difference. (9-10)

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Though we may be eager to be with the Lord, we should live our lives to please God. Our lives have a purpose. These are not our purposes. They will be reflected upon by the one who trusted us with these lives.

Text: John 11:1, 17-27

The poet, James Whitcomb Riley, has a poem in which he tells of the death of a worker in a shop. He pictures his fellow workmen standing around on the day of his funeral talking about him. One man, tears in his eyes after saying some complimentary things, added, "When God made him, I bet He didn't do anything else that day just set around and feel good.” Morning Glory, January 8, 1994

1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

17-27 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

There are a few simple things I want you to see with me about this passage this morning.

I. Jesus points at a problem we all face - Death. (19)

Their Circumstances are particularly easy for us to understand. Lazarus who was sick has died. His sisters are devastated.

Their friends surrounded them to offer comfort. And I want to say that there is no time in a family’s life when there is a greater need for expressions of love and sympathy. With the cards, letters, flowers, food, phone calls and spoken words friends can let their love be known. Even time spent with the family at such a time is a silent but eloquent way of expressing love and sympathy.

C.H. Spurgeon stated:

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you. So carve you name on hearts, and not on marble."

Each of you here today are proof of the fact that that Dodie did not just live but carved their lives into ours.

II. Jesus shares news we need – Life Beyond the Grave. (25)

Jesus said, “I AM” - literally the words “I AM” are the words that God used to reveal his identity to Moses in the book of Exodus. When Moses asked for words to reassure the people that he was seeking to deliver from Egypt that he was truly sent from God, God’s answer was I want you to say, “I Am has sent you.” The words “I Am” means “the one who is, was and always will be.” It was a statement of deity and self existence of God.

When Jesus Said, “I Am” it was his own reassurance that he was indeed God in the flesh. When Jesus said “I Am” the resurrection and the life, He is saying the he is the only way to resurrection and to eternal life.

Philippians 1:21

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1. If for me to Live is Christ then to die is gain.

If for me to live is money, to die is a loss, If for me to live is pleasure, to die is a loss, if for me to live is self, to die is a loss, if for me to live is ambition, to die is a loss, if for me to live is sin, to die is a loss. if for me to live is this world, to die is a loss. But if for me to live is Christ To Die is gain.

We Gain a Better Body:

We gain a glorified ,immortalized, resurrected, body. In this present body of clay we are subject to all the tears and sorrows that life is heir to. Age, sickness, and finally death are the inevitable accompaniments of this house made of the dust of the ground.

But in death and in the resurrection we gain a better body, one that can never grow old, know disease, suffer pain, and can never die. We gain a better body no more arthritis, diabetes, migraines, cancer,. Hallelujah a brand new body.

We gain a Better home.

No matter how beautiful your home here is, it can never compare to our mansion in the beautiful city of God.

Remember the Words of this Chorus. “This World is not my home, I’m just a passing thru my home is laid up somewhere beyond the blue, the angels beckon me to heavens golden shore and I don’t feel at home in this world any more.

Sam Cowan is no longer singing “I feel like traveling on” He has moved in to his heavenly home he just left 119 wood street to his mansion on hallelujah square.

We gain a better inheritance:

Our final inheritance is not here it’s in heaven.( you have all seen the bumper sticker that says: We’re spending our Children’s inheritance”.

Our final reward is not down here it’s in heaven. It’s only beyond the gates of death that we even hear the precious words of our Lord “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of your Lord” Matt 25:21

We gain a better fellowship:

All of us in this world live in a dissolving family circle. Mother is gone, or Father is gone, or a child is gone or our beloved grandparents are gone. Or friends are gone. If we live long enough we shall be strangers in this earth. Everyone we knew and loved will be gone, but the circle is unbroken in heaven forever and ever there is no death there, no sorrow, and crying and pain for the former things are passed away. But best of all beyond our families and friends, who wait to greet us there, We shall see our savior face to face. We shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac ,and Jacob in the Kingdom of God and be with Our Lord For Eternity.

III. Jesus Presents The World’s Greatest Offer. (25b-26a)

The same message is found in John 3:16.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Later in John 14:6, Jesus says,

"…I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one cometh to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus promises eternal life to “whoever believes” in him. The promise is limited only to those who will believe and receive it.

But the result is that the dead shall live again.

Can this be death?

To be released from fear and sorrow,

From sickness, weariness and pain?

To be removed from sin’s enslavement,

From Satan’s influence and domain?

Can this be death?

To Know complete fulfillment as I look upon God’s face?

To feast upon the glories and the riches of His grace?

No, this is life!

With all that it can offer, it is joy that overflows!

It is peace that knows no measure,

It is victory, forevermore!

VI. Jesus Asks The World’s Most Important Question. (26b)

Jesus now turns to the two sisters and ask them the most important question in the world. “Do you believe this?” I want you to note he did not ask her how she felt, he asked her if she believed!

The Apostle Paul says of his own life and faith,

“… I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”

2 Tim. 1:12

It is a specific question, “Do you believe this?” The Lazarus’ sister in story affirmed that she did believe that Jesus was the Savior. The question remains, “ Do you believe in Him?”

Do you believe that Jesus is the Resurrection?

Do you believe that Jesus is the way the truth and the life?

Do you believe that Jesus is the way (the only way) to eternal life?