Funeral Sermon (John 11:25-26)

to be continued...

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Good morning everyone. My name is Joseph Cowan, I am the Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church here in town, and on behalf of the family, I would like to thank each of you for attending this morning as we honor the memory of Rylan Carleigh Beth Rose.

She was born to Jack Rose Jr. and Candace Rogers Rose on September 17, 2012; she was a beautiful baby girl.

{Obituary info}

(PRAY)

I believe we’re all asking these questions right now:

Has God abandoned us?

Where was/is Jesus in all this?

Why didn’t God stop this from happening - why did He allow this to happen?

When I was preparing this message, I thought, “What words could I say to the family in this time of grief?” Honestly, I don’t know if there are any words that I could think of that would make the grief and the pain go away; simply saying, “She’s in a better place” just doesn’t eliminate our grief and sorrow on this side of eternity...but Jesus gives us hope.

In John 11:25-26, Jesus is ministering to sisters Mary and Martha over the death of their brother, Lazarus. He says these words to Martha:

John 11:25–26 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

This is where your hope is found: in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. This is the Gospel, the good news.

I have one question for you, do you believe this?

I’m very confident in where she is now...she’s in the arms of Jesus.

So where has Jesus been in all this? He’s been right here, grieving alongside us, and He’s still with us even now. In John 11:35, it says two words: “Jesus wept.” He cares for the burdens of His children, and he understands every bit of sorrow and pain that we’re feeling right now.

You wanna know how Jesus proved his love for us? By this:

Romans 5:6–8 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I don’t know why this happened, but I do know this: at the end of time, she will be fully resurrected and will be given a new body, and will live in the New Heaven and New Earth along with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

(CLOSING PRAYER)