Funeral Message

John 14:1-6

Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

John 14:1–6 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:1 says, ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

1. Peace

The disciples have been up and down in emotions. Their week had begun gloriously with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem with people waving palm branches and now they’ve begun to realize that Jesus won’t be with them much longer.

The disciples were upset and so Jesus looked at them with tenderness and said in verse 1: “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus goes on to say, “Believe in God; believe also in me.” The only way to have peace in the midst of troubled times is to trust in Christ.

What does it mean to trust?

The first thing Jesus tells us is to trust in Him. When we do, He will give us His peace. Next, He tells us to focus on another place.

In Verse 2 Jesus says, “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

2. A Place

The Greek word for “rooms” means to “abide” or “remain,” and refers to something that is not temporary, but permanent. Friends, our place here won’t last but we’re headed to a place that is everlasting.

Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us in heaven. All the arrangements have been made for those who have put their full faith and trust in Him.

We’re called to trust his peace and to recognize that He’s preparing a place. The third thing we’re to do is to trust the promise of Jesus.

In verse 3 it says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

3. Promise

Some cultural context is helpful here. When a son wanted to get married, he and his father would add a room on to the Father’s house. When the addition was finished, the son would go and get his bride for the wedding and then they would move into the room prepared for them. Likewise, Jesus is preparing a room for His bride, the church, right now. When the time is right, He will gather us and bring us to the Father’s house. This is His promise.

Friends, let’s trust His peace, let’s focus on the right place, let’s claim His promises and finally, let’s commit to follow His plan.

In verses 4-6 Jesus says, “And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

“Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

4. Plan

One of the disciples named Thomas spoke up for the rest of the timid team. They just didn’t get it. What in the world was Jesus talking about? “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

In verse 6, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me…’”

The three gates of the temple - courtyard, Holy place, Holy of Holies

Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. There is no other plan but the person of Jesus. There is no way to get to heaven unless we go through Him. Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Jesus is very inclusive in the sense that everyone is invited to a relationship with Him as John 6:37 states: “…and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” But, His claims are extremely exclusive in that there is no other way to Heaven except through Him.

It’s time to come to Christ. There’s only one condition for entrance into heaven -- it’s not a matter of trying to pay the price by being good or offering a bid by going to church -- the only requirement is that you personally believe that Jesus paid the price by absorbing your sins on a cross and that He rose again so that at the moment of your death you will rise too.

• Believe that Jesus is the way and then give way to His way in your life

• Believe that Jesus is the truth and live by His truth in your life

• Believe that He is life and then receive the One who alone can give you eternal life.

Allow Jesus to give you His peace, hold on to His promises, focus on another place, and commit to follow His plan..

Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer- “Father, I thank You that we have a High Priest who is able to understand and empathize, coming alongside us as we grieve over the loss of Gaynelle. I thank you that we do not sorrow as one who has no hope, because we believe that Jesus died and rose again; even so we also know that God will also bring back our loved one who sleeps in Jesus with Him. I ask that you comfort us, for you said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted,” and draw those who may not yet know you as Lord and Savior near to you in comfort and encouragement. We pray these things in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.”

Please join me in our Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.