Funeral Sermon 1

Text: John 14:1-6

Sermon Note: This funeral sermon is intended to be shared at the service of someone who is a follower of Jesus. The sermon could be adapted if the person was not a follower of Jesus to have even more evangelistic appeal.

We come together today to recognize and honor the life of [the deceased].

In this passage, Jesus knew that He was just hours away from the cross. He knew His death would disturb His disciples, as they were like family. And so, we see how Jesus prepared His disciples for His death and in doing so, He gives us insight in both how to be prepared for that day and how to respond to a loved one passing that was in Christ. In this passage, He talks about a person, a place and a promise.

1. THE PERSON

• Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

• Jesus isn’t saying we shouldn’t mourn or feel a loss when we lose a loved one; in fact, the only time we read of Jesus crying in the Bible was when He heard that His friend Lazarus had died. What Jesus is saying is that it is possible to have peace in the midst of mourning.

• How do we have that peace? First, by putting our trust in the Person of Jesus Christ. We put our faith in a Person. Jesus is saying to His disciples, “we’ve walked together for three years, and you’ve seen me change water into wine, heal, cast out demons, raise the dead. I can be trusted.” To each one of us He is saying, trust Me. We can trust Him with our lives and our future.

• Even though we mourn over the death of [the deceased], we aren’t troubled because we know that they are more alive now than ever.

• [If known, tell the testimony of the deceased here].

2. THE PLACE

• Second, Jesus says that we have assurance of a better place – Heaven.

• Jesus is preparing for our place in Heaven. Even though the Bible doesn’t tell us everything about Heaven, it does tell us a lot. We know we will be in the presence of God and worship Him continually. That is reason enough to look forward to Heaven, but the Bible also says Heaven is going to be a place of:

1. Reunion – with those loved ones who have gone ahead of us who also put their trust in Christ. 1 Thess 4:14-18

2. Reward – we will be rewarded for the things we did for God while we were on earth. Matt 5:11-12 67

3. Release – released from all pain, all suffering, all sadness, all sorrow, all grief, all depression, all loneliness. Rev 21:4 – “and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away.”

3. THE PROMISE

• Jesus is speaking to His Apostles and gives them a promise that they will join Him in Heaven. We have God’s promise throughout scripture that Heaven awaits all those who have put their faith in Christ: “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Rom 6:23b

• Maybe some of you here today would admit you have questions about your salvation. One of Jesus’ Apostles, Thomas, did and so he asked, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered him, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Jesus’ response shows us that it is only through saving faith in Him that we can inherit eternal life. Jesus said that He was:

1. The Way – He provided the way to the Father through the cross when He died for my sins and for yours.

2. The Truth – He lived truth, spoke truth; the absolute truth for life can be found in Jesus Christ.

3. The Life – through Him, we can have abundant life on earth and eternal life in Heaven.

If you have not turned to the person of Christ today and trusted His promise, I encourage you to do so. If you are a follower of Christ, thank Him for the person, the place, and the promise.