Jesus is Lord, Even Over my Death!

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Gathering at a funeral is never fun. It is never a pleasant time. As you gather around the casket - you experience this reality that this person that you love so much is no longer with you in this world. This person that you looked to for guidance, this person that has loved you, this person who you have made memories with is no longer around anymore. The person that you once confided in is no longer - there to walk along in life with you. When you gather at a funeral, no matter how many memories are shared, no matter how many funny stories are told about the loved one who is gone, there is still is this element of struggle. There is this element of grappling with the reality of death. It isn’t something that we want to happen to a loved; but another reason why death is hard to deal with - is that it is something that we have no control over.

There is a family member of yours who gets a terminal diagnosis, and there is nothing you can do but stand and watch- trying to soak up as many memories, as many opportunities with that person. There is that loved one sitting in that hospital room - knowing that they will never be able to go back home and all you can sit and do is replay the medical news again and again in your head, but there is nothing to be done about it. Or as the funeral music starts for the family member or friend that you have lost - there is nothing that you can do to change it; there is nothing you can do to avoid it.

I’m sure this same feeling is what the disciples would have felt as they saw the arrest, trial, and death of Jesus play out. There they were celebrating this great high feast Passover - the night before. They were able to spend time with Jesus in this upper room. But they sudden shift or course of events completely changed the rest of the week for them. As they went out with Jesus to pray in the garden - they saw a mob of people led by Judas - to come a betray Jesus. Peter tried to step in and change the outcome of His arrest, but Jesus allows it to happen. At the trial of Jesus perhaps His disciples were hidden among the crowd and heard the crowd yelling crucify Him, crucify Him - and as those great voices spoke, there was nothing they could do to change that outcome, but watch helplessly as their friend, as their Rabbi, as their Lord was being sent to death. And as Jesus was nailed to the cross, perhaps His disciples stood off in the distance wondering about what was next, what was going happen. Perhaps they were hoping for another one of His miracles, where He would completely save Himself. But the disciples stood there and watch unable to control this crucifixion, unable to save Jesus. The death of their friend and Lord was something that they didn’t have control of. Maybe they were thinking about all the things that they didn’t get to do with Jesus - all the uncompleted teachings and ministry moments. But there they stood absolutely helpless - as they saw Jesus hanging there on a cross for the sins of the whole world.

And although death is something that we can’t control. We see the opposite happening in the death of Jesus. We see Jesus commanding His power over His enemies and over His death. In John 19, our reading for tonight which focuses on the passion of the Lord, Jesus still reveals Himself as Lord; and all the other people in this narrative find themselves helpless and out of control. First we see Pontius Pilate, he was the Roman governor, he through the trial - which we hear about in more depth in John 19 - he didn’t want this. He didn’t want to put Jesus to death. He continually tried to make someone else make the decision - like Herod. Pilate sent Jesus to Herod for a trial - but Jesus finds His way back to Pilate. Pilate sees if the crowd will give the answer that makes common sense - save the innocent man, Jesus, and punish the criminal Barabbas. But the crowd yells Crucify Him, Crucify Him about Jesus. Pilate time and again finds Jesus innocent of any wrong doing, but he is put under pressure by other people to make a decision that he didn’t want to do. Pilate in the death of Jesus - although he is the one who declares Jesus to be crucified - doesn’t get his way, is out of control; helpless.

Also in John 19, we hear about another group who wanted to put Jesus to death the Jewish religious leaders, and they too are out of control. Pilate as he finally caves into the demands of other people makes a sign on the cross of Jesus - that reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek for everyone around to read! The Jewish religious leaders went and complained to Pilate - saying that it shouldn’t say that Jesus is King of the Jews, but it should read that He is a person who claimed to be King of the Jews. But Pilate answers - I have written what I have written. Again, the enemies of Jesus - aren’t given what they want. Jesus still shows His power even as He is crucified. Jesus still shows Himself to be King over the situation. He is still in control throughout the this whole crucifixion account; in fact He is the only One who is in control of what is happening. And He ultimately will show that control - as He rises from the dead on Easter morning, showing His power and His glory over death and the grave for you and me. Jesus on Good Friday is the only One who is control; He is the King that is still flexing His power.

For us today, as we still grapple with the pain and struggle of death. It may seem like death has the great power. Like death is ultimate authority over everything else. It may seem like death is thing - that everything stops for. But Jesus Christ is still in control. In fact, Jesus has come to this world to bear the cross for you. He has come to the fight the battle with sin, death, and the devil for you! Death doesn’t have the final say, death isn’t the end. Death no longer is the ultimate authority. Because willing went to the cross for you - He has defeated the power of death. And because of Jesus - we can ask death where is your victory? O hell, where is your sting? Jesus has come to Lord over death - that you may never taste death. He bore death for you that you may have life.

Death no longer has a voice - but the only voice that has power is the voice Jesus - which now in victory is able to call you out of the grave.

Now may the peace of God, the grace of God which surpasses all understanding may it guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.