Caught Up Together in the Clouds (2)

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for being here today as we gather to honor and celebrate the life of Uncle Johnson Jarbo. Though we carry the weight of grief, we also come together to find comfort in one another, to reflect on the profound impact Uncle Johnson had on our lives, and to cherish the memories that will remain with us always.

This moment is more than a farewell—it is a tribute. A time to recognize the love, kindness, and legacy he leaves behind. Uncle Johnson revealed the beauty of life and the strength of the human spirit through his laughter, his wisdom, and the way he touched each of our hearts.

As we stand together in remembrance, we also stand together in healing and hope. We thank God for the gift of Uncle Johnson’s life, and we commit his journey into God’s eternal care. May we remember him with love, celebrate his story, and carry forward the light he shared with us all.

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and sorrow as we remember the life of Uncle Johnson Jarbo, whom You have welcomed into Your eternal presence. We thank You for the gift of his life—for the joy he brought, the wisdom he shared, and the legacy he leaves behind in each of us. Though our hearts ache with loss, we find comfort in Your promise that those who rest in You are free from pain and sorrow, embraced by everlasting peace. Lord, be close to us in this moment. Let Your presence bring healing to our grief, strength to our spirits, and hope to our hearts. Bless this time of remembrance, and guide us as we celebrate Uncle Johnson’s journey. May Your Spirit surround us with peace, and may Your light shine through the memories we hold dear. Remind us that Your grace is sufficient, and Your love never fails. We entrust Uncle Johnson to Your care, and we hold fast to the hope of reunion in Your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the mighty and compassionate name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. Amen.

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Let me begin by saying that facing the death of a friend or loved one is never an easy matter. Whether death comes after a long life or through the slow unfolding of illness, it brings with it a flood of emotions and a host of questions that weigh heavily on our minds and hearts. When a husband or wife, a father or mother, a brother or sister, or a friend is no longer with us, it can trigger very strong reactions, emotions, and questions.

We come as the people of God, anchored in the promises of His Word, to find comfort in His presence, strength in His Spirit, and victory in the truth of Scripture. Today, we celebrate the life of Uncle Johnson Jarbo—a life marked by love, wisdom, and faith. And as we remember, we also rejoice in the assurance that death is not the end, but a doorway into eternal life for those who rest in Christ Jesus.

SERMON EXPLANATION 1

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was aware of some church members who had recently lost a loved one, as mentioned in the Book of Thessalonians. To those who are hurting today and grieving due to the death of Uncle Johnson, Paul offers us a reason for hope. Paul talks about A Different Reaction in verse 13 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Paul addresses church members who have lost friends, family, or loved ones. Paul tells the believers that we should react differently than those who “have no hope.” There are two things I want us to keep in mind today as we grieve the death of Uncle Johnson:

First, for us Christians, Our Mourning is Natural. You see, it is ok for us to grieve because Paul is not saying that we should not be sad when our loved ones die. Death is inevitable, and this is a universal truth. Death, while inevitable, serves as a theological lens through which Christians confront the deeper meaning of their lives, their faith, and their relationships with others and God. My question to you is: What is your relationship with God today? Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”

SERMON EXPLANATION 2

Jesus knows our loss when a loved one passes away because He experiences it with us. Do you remember the story of Lazarus’ death in John chapter 11? We are told that Jesus wept when He saw the sad faces as He approached the sealed tomb of Lazarus, and He felt the loss of a loved one and a friend who was close to His heart. This moment shows that Jesus is not detached from what we are experiencing today, but Jesus fully understands and shares in our pain and grief.

We know, according to the Scripture, that all those who died in Christ will be resurrected, but being apart from them causes natural pain and grief. Scripture offers us profound comfort in the promise of the resurrection. [Watch This] Grief is not a sign of weak faith. Grief is not a sign of weakness. Grief is strength wrapped in vulnerability. Grief is faith that walks through the valley. Let us reject the lie that sorrow makes us spiritually small. Scripture tells us, 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' [Matthew 5:4 ] Comfort can be found in knowing that God sees and understands our sorrow, who promises to wipe every tear and bring eternal joy through Christ Jesus, according to Revelation 21:4.

The second thing you need to know is that Our Rejoicing Is Supernatural. Paul explains that Christians are to react differently than those who have no hope. We mourn and grieve the death of Uncle Johnson today, but I want you to remember that the Lord Jesus is with us through it all. For those of us who walk in faith, trusting in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, my prayer is that every heart gathered here today has received Jesus as Lord and Savior. We have comfort and hope in the future – we know that our departed loved ones, including Uncle Johnson, who were fellow believers, are now with the Lord according to 2 Corinthians 5:8.

Scripture calls those who died in Christ blessed according to Revelation 14:13: “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’ “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

SERMON EXPLANATION 3

Paul reminds us in verses 14 to 17 that if we believe in the gospel, we also believe in the Second Coming of Christ. There is no theological topic in the Bible that is more comforting to us during our time of loss and grief than that of the resurrection. The resurrection is central to our Christian faith, providing profound hope rooted in the promise of eternal life. Through the resurrection, believers are assured that death is not the end [Watch This] but a transition into life everlasting with Christ Jesus. And this blessed hope is for Christians only because it is tied to the Second Coming of Christ, when all who have died [including Uncle Johnson ] in Christ Jesus will be raised and united with Him in glory. May that promise be our hope this morning. May it bring quiet joy to our grieving hearts. May it offer peace that passes understanding.

The resurrection reminds Christians of Christ’s victory over sin and death, reassuring us that His promises are trustworthy. And so, why we grieve Uncle Johnson’s death today, Uncle Johnson is rejoicing and anticipating the day when he will be the first, along with many other believers, to see the resurrected Christ return for His people. Then, we will be reunited later with our fellow believers whom we have lost, and we will be united with Christ Jesus in all His glory for the rest of eternity.

SERMON ILLUSTRATION: “THE AIRPORT REUNION”

Let me give you an illustration. Imagine standing in an airport terminal, and you are watching passengers disembark from a long flight. Families wait with anticipation—some holding signs, some waving their hands, and others with arms open wide open. There is joy in the reunion—like the prodigal son embraced by his father, arms wide with grace. There are tears in the embrace—like Mary at the tomb, overwhelmed by the presence of her risen Lord. And then, there is relief in the return—for in Christ, every journey ends in glory.

This is the image Paul paints in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when he says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Just as loved ones reunite after a long journey, so will all believers one day be reunited with those who have gone before us in Christ Jesus. Uncle Johnson’s journey may have ended here on earth, but he is waiting at the gate of glory, anticipating the day when we will all be caught up together—never to be separated again.

INVITATION TO ETERNAL LIFE

In closing, I leave you with a profound question posed by Job in the midst of his suffering: “If a man dies, will he live again?” (Job 14:14). I want you to pause for a second and think about that question. It’s a question that echoes through every generation. Jesus, our Lord and Savior Himself answered it with divine authority in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die.” Uncle Johnson believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That is why we can say with confidence today, he will live again. His faith secured his future, and his life now rests in the eternal promises of God.

If you do not yet know Jesus, I urge you—and I challenge you to come to Him by faith. Receive Him into your heart. He stands ready to forgive, to restore, and to give you eternal life [A New Life]. Today is the day of salvation.

Call on His name, and He will answer. Believe in Jesus, and He will save you. God bless you.

FINAL BLESSING AND PRAYER

Let’s pray

Eternal God, the giver of life and the keeper of our days, we come before You with hearts full of gratitude and reverence. We thank You for the life of Uncle Johnson, Your servant, who has now completed his earthly journey and entered into rest. We stand in the assurance of Christ’s triumph over death, and we cling to the promise that because He lives, we too shall live. In this moment of sorrow, we ask for Your comfort. Wrap us in Your presence, fix us with Your peace, and renew us with Your strength. Let Your grace be our anchor and Your love our refuge. As we depart from this place, may we carry the legacy of Uncle Johnson with honor and walk forward in faith, hope, and unity. Now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus—today and forevermore. And the people of God said, Amen. God bless you.

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