Jesus Brings Peace in the Middle of Confusion and Grief

John 20:19

The funeral of Jeff Powell April 26, 2025 Christ Our Savior, Freeburg, Illinois

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life.

What happened? How did we get here? I can’t deal with all this sadness! What comes next? Everything that’s about to happen is uncharted territory! How do we go on? Those questions and more swirl around deathbeds and funerals and funeral lunches, now and throughout time. You probably are grappling with at least some of those questions and statements and feelings today, and maybe some others that didn’t get listed. But you’re not the first to deal with uncertainty, fear, grief and pain after someone you love died.

Just look at the disciples. Where were they during their time of grief and confusion? They were locked in the upper room because they were afraid of those who had crucified Jesus. Earlier that day, they realized the tomb was empty and the body of Jesus wasn’t in the grave. Mary said she had seen Jesus, but could she be trusted? Grief, pain, chaos, confusion, and uncertainty swirled around them. Then, suddenly, Jesus was standing in the middle of them. Nevermind the locked doors - there He was! His first words to them were simply, “Peace be with you.” He then showed them His hands and His side and He breathed on them and taught them about God’s forgiveness. But it all started with the greeting, “Peace be with you.”

Bearing in mind the tragic events of Good Friday and the confusing reports of Easter Sunday morning, peace was the exact opposite of what the disciples were experiencing. Fear, anger, uncertainty, anxiety, resentment, terror, suspicion, and so many other emotions are understandable in that circumstance, and Jesus still comes and says, “Peace be with you.” The way that the disciples would understand “peace” though is a bit different than how we think of peace. For us, peace is the quiet moments on a camping trip or a morning well spent in a deer stand or time without noise and hubbub. When we think about peace, we think about “peace and quiet” with the absence of chaos, confusion, and noise. But in scripture, “peace” isn’t just a lack of noise or chaos, but instead peace is “the way things should be.” Jesus, risen from the dead, says “peace be with you” because everything is the way it’s supposed to be. Jesus, the only begotten Son of God who was crucified is risen from the dead and present with His disciples. Jesus is the very embodiment of peace.

The same crucified and risen Jesus who brought peace to His disciples brought peace to Jeff. This started with Jesus’ promise to Jeff at baptism, when Jesus united Jeff to His own death and resurrection. When Jesus washed away Jeff’s sins, the Lord made Jeff holy and righteous and covered him with forgiveness and peace. While a human observer would recognize Jeff as a sinner and think, “He doesn’t seem perfect to me” that’s exactly what Jesus had done for Jeff, giving him the regeneration and renewal of new life in Christ. Jesus continued to keep His promises to Jeff, forgiving Jeff throughout his life and keeping him in Jesus’ divine grace. Along with the forgiveness of sins and the mercy and grace of God, God gave Jeff a loving family, a devoted and loving wife, many friends, and fulfilling work and hobbies.

And yet, at a funeral service, those questions of chaos and confusion, sadness and grief and heartache, maybe even anger and blame and resentment, all swirl around us. Why did this happen? Could have anything been changed? What comes next? Today, “peaceful” isn’t the first word that might describe you or any of us here. Today, there are more questions than answers. There are many tears, and not as many smiles. There is confusion and uncertainty and complicated feelings. And Jesus still has the audacity to come into this room in His Word of Scripture and say “Peace be with you.” He doesn’t mean Peter and Thomas and John and James. No, He means you. Peace be with you. Jesus has come to set things right today, and to make them just the way they should be. Jesus comes, speaking of His perfect peace, showing you His nail-scarred hands, and declaring that He has made everything the way it should be.

Jesus is in charge of all creation. Jesus is in charge of life and death. Why do tragedies happen, and why do loved ones die, and what comes next? Jesus doesn’t answer all those questions as thoroughly as we would like Him to. The Lord of heaven and earth, the resurrection and the life, doesn’t owe you answers, as much as you might really want them. Thankfully, today, He says something better to you than the answers you want. He says, “I give you peace, just like I gave Jeff peace. I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own, and I call them by name. I lead my sheep through the valley of the shadow of death, and my people have nothing to fear. I give peace, not like the world gives, but that only I give.” Today, Jesus might not answer your questions, but He does resolve them. He is the resurrection and the life who forgives sins and covers His faithful with baptism.

That’s what Jesus did for Jeff. Throughout his life, no matter what, Jesus’ grace was for Jeff. That’s why Jeff is covered today by a baptismal pall - a baptismal blanket that shows that Jeff is one of Jesus’ baptized people. Jesus promised that no one can snatch His faithful people from His hand. Today, through tears, recognize that Jeff belongs to Jesus. That’s not in the past tense, but in the present tense. Jeff’s death doesn’t separate Him from Jesus, because Jesus promises that all who believe in Him will never die, and the one who believe in Jesus who dies will rise again. That promise is for Jeff.

Yet, that promise isn’t only for Jeff. It’s for you, too. In your grief and pain and complicated feelings, look to Jesus. Believe in Jesus. Receive the peace that Jesus gives. Today, you don’t need the answers to your questions. You do need Jesus, and that’s why He has come to you with His promise. He is the resurrection and the life, for Jeff and all who believe in Him. Look to Jesus in the middle of chaos, guilt, grief, pain, heartache, and everything else that you experience. Jesus gives you exactly what you need - Himself. Today, live and grieve in the peace of Christ that covers you by His amazing grace. Amen.