Funeral John 20

John 20: 1-2; 11-16

Illustration: The disciple in the boat and Jesus calmed the storm

When His Will is daunting His Revelation is Peace,

CIT: Here Mary's mind and heart are the actual storm. Middle of His Will

Mary has gathered with other women to adorn the body after Jesus death. They gathered with broken hearts to see their deceased Leader.

They felt that everything they had hoped for is lost in the death of Jesus. They were not formal disciples of Jesus but they knew of the resurrection. Martha tells Jesus that she understood they idea of the resurrection. They believed it was something far away. Martha said that she knew that there was a day of resurrection. But Jesus declared “I am the resurrection and the life.”

They believed that God would come back, but didn’t believe that resurrection was for today. That we could look forward to resurrection, but it was out somewhere in the future.

But what they learned that day is that you and I have resurrection here and now. Carolyn is not waiting for the day of resurrection. We declare that Mrs. Wood is right now in the presence of her Savior. As a disciple of Jesus herself she is living out the resurrection that she was waiting for.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:50-57

Don’t fear the loss of a Promised future.

A.   V2 feared the loss of a Promise

1.   The Promised Savior was no longer there

2.   The Promised Kingdom was not founded

B.   Feared the loss of Security

1.   He was her Teacher

2.   She had come to trust Him Loss of Control

We love the comfort of control. Death is a hard process because we can’t control it. A week ago Mrs. Wood was having a great day Spent time with friends and her husband. Then hours later she was slipping away.

We didn’t have months of suffering.

We didn’t have a year to say good bye.

She was hear and then she was with her God. It is in these moments that we want to take over and gain control. But control is not to be had. We have had to learn to just give him control.

B.   V15 "I will take him away" shows her desire to control

Lack of Faith

A.   She had just heard the angels in Luke 24 shows that the angels instructed her that he was risen

B.   This is sharp contrast to v8 where John "believed"

Understand this really important truth. Carolyn gave Jesus control years ago. She called on Jesus to be her savior and then raised her children and grandchildren to love Jesus themselves. Why, because Jesus had control. She had placed her faith in Christ and therefore she could rest in His promise for her future.

Rest in the personal relationship of a Savior.

Then Jesus Called Her name

If He had desired he could have kept her thinking he was the Gardener all day. But he came in her time of despair and calmed her heart.

A.   Her Response was Not:

1.   Jesus - His Miraculous life

2.   Emanuel - God with us

3.   Christ - His victory over sin

4.   Messiah - His coming Kingdom

B.   Her Response was:

1.    Master

a.  He controlled

b.  He was in charge

c.  He was protecting

d.  He was providing

e.  Her Understanding was complete

f.   Her Fear was Gone

g.  Her Control was lost

h.  Her Faith was Present and Accounted for.

Because he had come to her in a personal way.

Precious in the sight of the Lord

is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15

Why…

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.

II Corinthians 5:6-8

Many of you have experienced this love from Mrs. Wood. She wanted to be near you. Every time she was at church she would come over to hug me and tell me about some new thing. About visiting grand and great grand kids. Or friends and family heading off to a Southern Gospel sing.

She would bridge the gap between her and anyone that was hurting. It is a regular thing to hear of Mrs. Wood serving in a stand in Mom or grandma for one that was in heaven. Because she loved like a mom. She wanted to be close and if you hurting she was headed your way.

It’s precious because its personal.

Live in light of the promise of Resurrection.

The Resurrection of Christ was the will of the God.  This was part of the eternal plan of God for the salvation of man.  It is the consummation of victory over death.

This is a true picture of Carolyn. She gave herself to faithful service in her church. Served with Owen as he was the church treasurer for 29 years. In that same time of service they were youth leaders. And all over the country today are kids still in love with Jesus because of the influence of Mrs. Wood.

If you want to honor the memory of your mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother. Then don’t just say words. She served Jesus and loved you like Jesus. If you want to honor her then don’t tune him out now. Turn to Jesus.