Our Blessed Hope / Nuestra Bendita Esperanza
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Introduction
Introduction
The purpose of our gathering is to remember and give God thanks for the life of Mrs. Henry.
Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Henry - I am blessed by her contribution to the kingdom of God. Every time sister Rachel plays the piano at Agua Viva - I know that Mrs. Henry’s legacy and ministry will continue to live on.
Funeral services/memorial services have been part of the Christian tradition since the first century. We gather:
To give God thanks for the life of those who have died.
To mourn for those who will no longer be amongst us. Death, contrary to what many people think, is not natural. The Bible describes death as the last enemy that will one day be destroyed.
To proclaim the message of our blessed hope. To proclaim the power of Jesus’ resurrection - for he said:
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
Entonces Jesús le dijo:
—Yo soy la resurrección y la vida. El que cree en mí vivirá, aunque muera;
I. Our Hope Is Based on God’s Promises, As Revealed in His Word
I. Our Hope Is Based on God’s Promises, As Revealed in His Word
In our passage, Joseph is about to die. This is the famous Joseph - Joseph the dreamer, Joseph and his coat of many colors.
Remember that he is a great government official in Egypt. However, he is a Hebrew. He is of the people of Israelite.
He asks his brothers that when he dies, they must not bury his body in Egypt. They are to carry is bones out of Egypt to be buried in the “land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (24:24).
This promise was made many years before to the patriarch Abraham. More than 200 years have past and God’s promise was yet to be fulfilled.
However, Joseph trusted in God’s word. He knew, God would someday fulfill his promise.
Therefore, his body must be carried to Egypt and be buried in the land of promise.
Joseph died. The children of Israel were made slaves in Egypt for at least 430 years.
However, one day God fulfilled his promise. God sent his servant Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and gloriously saved his people from bondage.
As Moses was leaving Egypt he remembered the promise his ancestors had made to Joseph:
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.”
Moisés se llevó consigo los restos de José, según éste se lo había pedido a los israelitas bajo juramento. Éstas habían sido las palabras de José: «Pueden contar ustedes con que Dios vendrá en su ayuda. Cuando eso suceda, llévense de aquí mis restos.»
As Believers, We Continue To Trust in God’s Word
As Believers, We Continue To Trust in God’s Word
In the same way believers continue to trust God’s word. How can we trust in Jesus Christ’s words? How can we sure that if we trust in him - although we may die - we will one day live again?
He said he would rise from the dead and he did. Surely, we can trust his promises!
We know that although we will one day die - our trust is in the Lord.
We know that although our flesh will one day be consumed - with our own eyes we shall see the Lord.
Mrs. Henry had this hope in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:
Her wish was that we would proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ.
Her wish was that we would sing of the Amazing Grace that we read about in the Gospel - a grace so amazing that it is offered to us - sinful human beings.
Her wish was that we would sing of the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding.
Her wish was that we would sing of that blessed day when the Lord will come "from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” ().
from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
The gospel of Jesus Christ says that although we have sinned against God, we can be forgiven by trusting in Jesus Christ. Our guilt, our shame, our separation from God will be a thing of the past.
The world needs hope.
The only hope for this life and for the one to come - is Jesus Christ.
If we trust in Jesus Christ we truly have a blessed hope. If we do not trust in Jesus - we are without hope.
Mrs. Henry no longer needs to have hope or have faith - she is now experiencing that which she had hoped for.