Grandmas Funeral

Memories

Introduce myself.

I remember growing up going over to Grandma and Papas whenever Mama and Daddy went on vacation or had to take a trip together.

Growing up, those were some of my favorites times. They were my favorite, because as you can see, I really liked to eat and grandma fed us well when we were at her house

At Grandmas there was always something to eat.

Grandma would wake us up school for school and as soon as you woke up, you would smell the breakfast that she had cooked, and she would make us sit down and eat our breakfast before we went.

I can remember loving to go to Gma and Papas because Grandma would buy us the little round pizzas for us to eat, and for some reason, they just tasted better when Grandma cooked them.

I have memories of going with Papa and Grandma fishing in Florida.

I have memories of walking into the store an seeing grandma working, always. She never just sat down.

She would be wiping a counter, sweeping the floor, handling the register.

It was the same way at her house.

When we stayed with grandma, I often noticed how she would never sit down. She never quit working until it was time for bed.

She loved to serve you.

I can remember her making me take a bath at night before I went to bed, and she would tell me to throw my clothes in the hamper in the bathroom.

The next morning, when I woke up, the clothes that I had took off would be washed and folded. I honestly could have wore the same clothes every day when I was at grandmas house.

I have memories of her hugs which never came without a kiss. Ill miss those kisses.

This past week, as we sat with Grandma and Papa, I had the opportunity to hear her say I love you one last time.

Im so thankful for the memories that I have of my grandma.

I am thankful supremely today for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But today, the thing I am most thankful for, is that my grandma had placed her faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Because eve though today is a day of mourning, it is also a day of celebration.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 NASB95

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.

There should be a difference in the way we grieve as believers in Jesus Christ.

I know where my hope is. Though the body of my grandmother is dead, her soul is in the presence of Jesus Christ right now.

How do we get through times like this.?

In , we gain an understanding of how Jesus, the Son of God, deals with death and its here we see, how we should be dealing with death as well.

John 11:1–5 KJV 1900

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

John11:1-5

The Situation

In , Jesus had a very close friend of his grow sick, Lazarus the brother of Martha and Mary.

Lazarus is sick.

Lazarus is dying.

Mary and Martha call upon the only one they know has the ability to help, but Jesus doesn’t come right away.

But he tells them something.

Verse 4 is the verse that drives the rest of the passage in

John 11:4 KJV 1900

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

We learn three things in verse 4.

Lazarus’s situation will not end in death.

Jesus will be glorified.

How in the world can he tell us this?

Jesus is sovereign.

He is 100% in control of His situation. Mary’s situation. Martha’s situation. Lazarus’s situation. The disciple’s situation. Our situation.

So when he says this will not end in death, it will not.

He has told us this. Death is not the end. Jesus will be glorified and he is sovereign.

Honestly, this should have been the end of all worry in this passage, but they were human just like we are.

Jesus, the sovereign Lord of All Creation, has spoken. This will not end in death.

If you aren’t familiar with the story, Jesus waits two more days before coming to where Lazarus was sick. Whenever Jesus does get there, Lazarus is dead.

He has told us this. Death is not the end. Jesus will be glorified and he is sovereign.

Its at that moment, you can imagine their doubts, fears, and pains

Both Mary and Martha said the same thing: when Jesus does get there 2 days later:

“Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Both sisters have been waiting for him.

Both sisters have been told by the Lord Jesus that his situation will not end in death.

But hes dead now, can anyone do anything about it now

Maybe thats how you feel today.

But I want you to understand this morning, Jesus has given us the same promise as well .

John 11:25–26 NASB95

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

If you are a believer today, We have the same promises Lazarus did:

This will not end in death.

Jesus Christ will be glorified.

The one who we serve is sovereign.

But I would be a bad gospel preacher if I did not tell you the other side of the coin.

For the believer the above is true.

But you need to be aware unbeliever.

The one who does not put their trust in God, please understand your funeral will be no celebration.

For my grandmother, this world and the pains of this world is the worst she will ever see.

But you need to understand, this world and the pains of the world is the best you will ever see.

The only thing there will be is weeping and more weeping.

Because we have no hope apart from Christ.

Hebrews 3:15 NASB95

while it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”

Put your faith and trust in Christ today.

The most loving thing i can do today is not sit up here and tell you to keep living like you are living.

The most loving thing I can do is tell you to submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ

He has told us this. Death is not the end. Jesus will be glorified and he is sovereign.