Funeral of Irmi Goldschmidt-Erbe

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (Jn 5:24). These are the words of Jesus, spoken to his disciples, to Irmi, and to all who hear and believe his words. They are a promise of comfort and hope. But underlying this promise is the certainty that judgment is coming. Judgment? Does anyone believe in that anymore? Did God really say there will be a judgment? Indeed he did. He said to Adam and Eve, “The day you eat from that tree, you will surely die.” Again he said, “The soul that sins, it shall die.” The coffin lying before us today is a sobering reminder that every Word of God is true. Death is the great equalizer. It comes for the good and the wicked, for the old and the young, for the rich and the poor. You can’t outrun it, or buy your way out. All have sinned, and so all shall die.

Irmi knew this was true, but she was not afraid. Yes, she was a sinner, but all of her sins had been put upon Jesus. Yes, she knew that one day her body would lie here, and her family and friends would gather to lay her to rest, but she believed even more in the promise of Christ, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” Irmi’s body is here, but she is not. She is with her Lord and Savior. She has passed through death into eternal life. She is now beyond the reach of Satan, removed from the lure of all temptation, delivered from sickness and suffering of every kind.

The Bible tells us that the whole world is held in bondage through the fear of death. We fear the unknown. We fear the unexpected. We fear what we cannot control. But through our Lord’s victory over death, the power that held men in thrall all their lives has been broken. “Death has been swallowed up in victory. O grave, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55–56). This verse from the Psalms is perhaps one of the boldest statements even uttered. Who would dare taunt and mock death? A believer in Jesus would—because death’s fury has been spent upon Christ. All the power of hell was unleashed upon our Lord. He took upon himself the sin of the world, and in his dying, death itself died. The sting of death is sin, but Jesus has already paid the full price for every sin. The power of sin is the law, and Jesus has perfectly kept the law for you, as he did for Irmi.

This is why baptism is so important: because baptism connects you to Christ’s victory. When Irmi was brought to the font as a small child, she was joined to the cross of Christ and to his resurrection. His victory over sin, death, and the devil became her victory. And from that moment until the day of her death, nothing could harm her. Nothing could snatch her away from her Savior. Nothing could separate her from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the promise that Jesus made to Irmi and still makes to every believer, “Sickness can’t harm you. Cancer can’t beat you. The grave itself cannot hold you.” Why? Because the day is coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Yes, the hour is coming, and is now here, when those who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out (Jn 5:25, 27–28).

Irmi, who gladly heard her Lord’s voice in life, now awaits his voice in her grave. She is with Christ now in spirit, but she joyfully awaits the day of the bodily resurrection of all flesh. On that day the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed (1 Cor 15:51–52). For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand in victory upon the earth, having placed every enemy under his feet. I know that in my flesh I shall see God – with my own eyes (Job 19:25–27). How can we know this? Because we have the promise of Jesus and his Word cannot be broken.

Apart from Christ every one of us is lost. Apart from his Word, we have no hope in this world, no future but suffering and death. But with Jesus and his promises, we have a joyful and lively hope. We have a sure and certain future. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it even entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9). In that blessed hope, we say goodbye to Irmi today, knowing that this is not the end. Death does not get the last word. Irmi has passed from death into life. She is with Christ and death lies crushed beneath his feet. We know this is true because of Jesus’ promise, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.” Amen.