A Time of Parting

Introduction

Goodbyes are sometimes very moving experiences.

Funerals are a time to say “Goodbye” to a family member and friend.

We gather together, as we are doing today, to thank God for the life and faith of James Ronald Whitley.

This is an important event to mark the end of an earthly journey.

It is a time of parting and a time to say “Goodbye.”

The Apostle Paul was coming to the end of his third missionary journey.

He was heading back to Jerusalem, hoping to reach it on the day of Pentecost.

Paul arrived at Miletus and sent for the Ephesian elders to come and meet him.

You may recall that Paul had spent a little over three years in the city of Ephesus.

This was the longest that Paul had stayed in any single location.

As a result of his ministry in Ephesus, the church was planted in Ephesus, and the gospel was preached throughout the entire region of Asia.

Paul had an extremely fruitful ministry in Ephesus.

When the Ephesian elders arrived in Miletus, Paul reminded them of his faithful service to them.

This is the only message in Acts that is given directly to church members.

Paul pointed them to God’s faithfulness and his work in their lives.

Then, the time for parting came.

Let’s read about Paul’s goodbye to the Ephesian elders.

Scripture

Let’s read Acts 20:36-38:

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Lesson

Acts 20:36-38 shows us what takes place at a time of parting.

Let’s use the following outline:

A Time of Sorrow (20:36-38a)

A Time of Separation (20:38b-c)

A Time of Victory

I. A Time of Sorrow (20:36-38a)

First, a time of parting is a time of sorrow.

We are not told where Paul met with the Ephesian elders.

Perhaps they met on the shore, on the beach, or even on the ship.

Wherever it was that they met, Luke tells us in verse 36, “And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all.”

We know that this parting was emotional because Luke said in verses 37-38a, “And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken.”

The Ephesian elders were particularly sorrowful because they would not see Paul’s face again.

Death is a similar experience.

We know that we will never again see that person’s face again this side of glory.

The Ephesian elders had a very close and special relationship with Paul.

Paul had introduced them to Jesus.

They had trusted in Jesus as their own Lord and Savior, and they were now bound for glory and not for hell.

Paul nurtured their faith.

Paul helped them grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (see 2 Peter 3:18).

Paul helped them plant a church that became a flourishing church.

Ron and Esther and the Whitley family were founding members of the Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church.

You helped plant the church, and today it is a flourishing church in the community.

Sorrow at the time of Paul’s parting was openly expressed, as our text says in verse 37.

Weeping is a language that all people understand.

Jesus’ friend Lazarus died.

Four days after Lazarus’ death, Jesus went to Lazarus’ home in Bethany.

When he arrived in Bethany, Lazarus’ sister met Jesus.

We read in John 11:32-35:

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.

Even Jesus wept in the face of death.

Death is an enemy.

Death is the result of the entry of sin into this world.

It is right to be sad and weep in the face of death.

So, a time of parting is a time of sorrow.

II. A Time of Separation (20:38b-c)

Second, a time of parting is a time of separation.

Paul was leaving his beloved friends for the last time.

He believed that he would never see them again—and he was right.

Luke tells us in verse 38b, “… they would not see his face again.”

Sometimes people have a sense that a time of separation is coming.

I don’t know if Ron knew that or not.

I know that Esther and the family did.

Esther, you said to me last Sunday, “Ron is dying.”

I felt so bad for you because you were in the AdventHealth Tampa hospital, and I knew you wanted to be with your beloved husband.

Your children have taken such outstanding care of you and Ron.

Luke said of the Ephesian elders in verse 38c, “And they accompanied him to the ship.”

They were with Paul to the very end.

Family and friends stay with the loved ones to the end too.

That is why you are here at this funeral service.

You are not only saying goodbye to Ron, but you are also here to support and encourage one another as you grieve together.

So, a time of parting is a time of sorrow.

And a time of parting is a time of separation.

III. A Time of Victory

And third, a time of parting is a time of victory.

The Ephesian elders knew that they would see Paul again.

Although our text does not explicitly state it, we are sure that Paul taught them well.

They knew that that time of parting was only temporary.

They knew the truth of what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Victory does not lie in circumstances.

Victory rests in the will of God.

Victory rests in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, as we read in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57:

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Friends, death is a time of parting.

But for the Christian, there is hope.

When a person dies, that person goes either to heaven or to hell.

Most people go to hell.

However, for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the only Savior of sinners and who repent of their sins, there is the hope of heaven.

Funerals are a time to consider your eternal destiny.

We know that Ron is with Jesus and is in heaven because decades ago, he trusted in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.

If you have never done so, turn to Jesus today.

Put your trust in Jesus so that you, too, can go to heaven. Amen.