Funeral Sermon – LaVerne Gilbert

John 11:21-27

12/08/03

“Our Hope”

Introduction:  Garth, Shirley, Don, and the family and friends of LaVerne.  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We didn’t expect to be here today did we?  Certainly LaVerne has had more than her share of health issues.  She has been in and out of the hospital as long as I have known her, you especially know the troubles and trials that she has had.  For most of us, it wasn’t long ago that we unknowingly had our final conversations with her. Just last Tuesday, as we visited in the hospital, she was the same old LaVerne with plenty of pep and kick, plenty of personality and with her great sense of humor, if you know what I mean.  Then, just as suddenly and unexpectedly LaVerne died.  We have come together in this place to mourn and shed tears of grief.  We have come to remember LaVerne and the wonderful gift of God that she was to each and everyone of us.  We have come here to celebrate her life, which God gave her in Jesus Christ.  It was a life that was centered on Jesus Christ in whom LaVerne found hope.  We are here because we need hope to, especially at this time and in the days and weeks and months to ahead.  We have gathered here because we, like LaVerne, know that Jesus Christ is our only hope.

             I.      Jesus - Our Only Hope in Life

In our text for today, we have the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  They were quite ordinary people as far as we know.  Their lives however became quite extraordinary when Jesus came to them where they lived in the town of Bethany.  Jesus became a part of their lives.  He spent time with them, teaching them about His Father and about Himself.  He did ordinary things with them like eating and drinking.  It is obvious that Jesus loved them.  They in return loved Him.  Jesus came to them where they were at in the world, simply struggling to live in a world filled with adversity and pain.  In Jesus and in His Word they found hope – to live.

Jesus came into LaVerne’s life.  When she was baptized she became His – forever.  From that moment on Jesus entered into her ordinary life and made it extraordinary.  From that moment on He never left her.  At her mother and Fathers feet and in church, right next to you Shirley, she was taught about her own sinfulness and about the grace of God.  She came to know her loving Savior who had to lay His life down on the cross to pay for her sins and to give her life and to give her hope.  She regularly came to the Lord’s table.  As she received Christ’s body and blood she knew that she received His forgiveness and eternal life.  As we visted frequently, in and out of hospitals, she almost always asked me if I had brought the Lord’s Supper.  In it she found peace and comfort and rest for her soul.  Though her body was failing her soul was healthy and well.  Because of Jesus she had hope in life and in her eternal life in Christ.                 

          II.      Jesus - Our Only Hope in Suffering and Death

There are many things in life that can cause people to despair and loose hope.  All of them are the result of man’s sinfulness.  Sickness and death are two of those things.  When Lazarus had become sick, Mary and Martha called for the Lord to come to Him.  They believed that Jesus had the power to heal.  Jesus did come but it seemed too late.  Martha greets the Lord with these words, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  In this life, even when we have faith, sometimes we have doubt and uncertainty about our Lords power and will.  If Laverne doubted, her doubt remained unspoken.  Even in all her troubles in and out of the hospital, LaVerne trusted in God’s good will towards her.  Even as she prepared for her eventual death, she remained unshaken.  I once asked her, “LaVerne, are you planning on dying on me soon?”  She responded, “Oh no, I just want everything to be in order so it’s no trouble for any one.  And I am ready to go when ever the good Lord wants to take me.”  Though we weren’t ready, the Lord did take her.  She was ready because she believed in Jesus.                   

       III.      Jesus - Our Only Hope of Eternal Life

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me, though he may die, yet shall he live.  And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”  In the midst of our fear and doubt an uncertainty we can be certain of one thing.  There is healing and hope for LaVerne and for us.  In this life LaVerne experienced plenty of pain and sickness but LaVerne has now been healed.  She is with our Lord as He has been with Her everyday of her life.  Jesus died on the cross for LaVerne and us.  On the cross Jesus took our sickness and death upon Himself.  The scriptures say that by His stripes, the shedding of His blood we are healed.  Now she waits for the resurrection of her body.  Just as our Lord Jesus physically rose from the dead, she too will rise.  And some day all of us who believe shall be joined together with the Lord.  Oh what a day that will be!

Conclusion:  Jesus calls us to believe in Him, that He is the Son of God who is to come into the world.  He came to Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  He came to LaVerne.  And He comes to us now in this place through His word.  He loves and cares for you.  He is with you.  Remember this in the days ahead as you grieve.  LaVerne found hope in Jesus.  He is our only hope now and forever.     Amen.