Carved Into His Hands

Family and friends of Lynn, grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our text for today is from Isaiah 49, verses 15-16: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands....” Our God and Savior describes His love for all who confess and are baptized into His name; He wants you to know that He loves us so much that He literally carves your name into the palm of His nail-pierced hands, much like we would carve initials into the trunk of a tree. The very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world does the same thing with you, indicating that you are His forever.

Today they're many things we can say about Lynn regarding her life and how she died; at the same time there are many things we cannot utter, because we just don’t know as those belong to God alone. However, there are many things of which we can speak regarding God promises to Lynn and to you. Dear family and friends, with the help of God this is what we will do today. Lynn Marie Bednar was born on November 7, 1982.  She was baptized into Christian faith – into Jesus’ death and resurrection. She professed her faith in Christ; raised her children – Clay and Lilly – to know Christ; she even made sure of Christian education, and Lilly is still here at our school. What a joy you are.

Then she died this past Monday, December 14, 2020, at the young age of 38. I last spoke with Lynn a few weeks ago regarding Lilly’s entrance into Confirmation instruction, and her desire to get back to church. O how she beamed with joy and pride at the mention of her children. We then exchanged a couple emails regarding the class schedule. She loved you kids so much, and I’m sure bent over backwards to make sure you had everything you needed. Unfortunately, the one thing you needed most – that is being a Mom – she was unable to do on a regular basis. You see, this bipolar disorder that was such a part of her life robbed all of you of the Mother, Daughter, Sister, and Friend that you loved because of how this disease would take control of her mind, causing her to do and say things that she would not do, had she been free from this mental condition. And you all don’t need me to tell you what that was like, because you lived with it and through it.

Oh, but then there were times – good times – when her mind was working properly and what a joy it was to be in her company. Those good slices of her life were full of love and joy, and am told that she such a giving individual. Like a slice of warm apple pie, she was sweet, full of flavor and texture, with just enough spice to keep things fun.

Clay and Lilly, I want to remind you that you Mom loves you very much. I also want you to know that there is nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening to your Mom. She was in a lot of pain and her bipolar condition caused her to do things that she would never do, if she was in her right mind. Bipolar disorder is like an old bully, that influences a person to do things until the unthinkable happens.

In fact, Holy Scripture reminds us that “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8), and his main tool in his toolbox is lying. He comes to his victim with the same question he had for Eve in the garden of Eden: “Did God really say?” Jesus calls him a liar and a murderer. His goal is to destroy. Those who live with a mental disability are particularly vulnerable because the mind does not work as it should 100% of the time. As a result, the devil tells them there there is a way to eliminate their pain once and for all. And, unfortunately, your Lynn was unable at that moment to discern the truth from the lie.

I wish I knew her better so I could adequately describe how loving and fun she was, and the joy she would bring into people lives when things were working well. And, if we had an “open-mic” time to tell such stories, I’m sure we could fill several hours pretty easily. But the unspoken question that we need to address is can a person who has taken their life go to heaven?

First, let me say that we should cherish her as one who did not die denying Christ, nor did she hold herself outside His forgiveness. She was wearing the cross of Christ; she had not thrown it away. And yet, there are some things we just do not know, because they belong exclusively to God. In other words, we do not, nor can we say what is only our Lord’s to say. What He knows for sure, we do not. Like, what were her very last thoughts and her last act before the end? And, what were His last words to her? Those are private, between Lynn and her Savior. These things we do not know.

In the midst of such a tragic and evil death, it is very easy for the Christian to be caught up in the moment, to be cast into despair by Satan, to doubt what you know to be true. You may begin to ask questions about Lynn, like “How did it come to this?” or “I thought she was thinking about it, didn’t you?” In the midst of sorrow and heartache and pain, and at times when nothing seems to make sense, and when all you have are more and more questions, where are you to turn?  What questions do you ask?  What answers are you going to get?

It is important in the midst of such sorrow for us to know what we can and what we cannot understand. You and I will never know this side of the grave what was going on in Lynn heart and soul. She suffered with this bipolar disorder, and along with all sorts of side effects. We can only speculate on the depths of her suffering, and we will never really know the answer to the question of what caused her to apparently take her own life.  What was it that the devil was whispering in her ear? We just won’t be able to know that answer.

Yet, the questions which God DOES answer are far more comforting, far more helpful than anything that our souls or the world may try to answer for us. What do we know for certain?

First of all, we know that Lynn is baptized. Notice I didn’t say was baptized. I said is baptized.  When God baptized Lynn that changed everything for her. Jesus death on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb now became hers. By faith she became God’s own child. Lynn was reborn by water and the Spirit. We learn from multiple passages of Scripture that Baptism works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. She is covered in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. God’s promise given to her when she believed and baptized are powerful and eternal. When God made that promise to her, all of these great gifts which God paid for on the cross became hers. That’s a big promise. That is why we have this funeral pall over her coffin this morning. A funeral pall symbolizes the righteousness of Christ which covered her in the holy waters of Baptism. Only the baptized have a funeral pall. It covers her up. All of her sin, all of her sorrow and pain. Even death itself is covered up. It is the robe of victory, and it flows from Holy Baptism.

Second, we know that she heard God’s Word and received Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. Her church attendance of late is unclear, but God’s Word does not return void. When God makes promises in His Word, He keeps them. So we trust God’s Word more even that what our eyes or hearts might have us believe. 

These promises of God, given in faith, in His Word and in His Holy Sacrament, point us away from ourselves and our trials, tribulations, and suffering, and point us forward to a life in Christ Jesus. This life in Christ, we often call it heaven as the Scriptures do, is a life where there is no sin and sorrow. There are no debts to pay, no addictions to overcome, no squabbles or fighting, no pain, no sickness or disease. This life in Christ, which Lynn received, points us outside of ourselves and our unanswered questions, and points us to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of God.

Lynn’s death has brought unspeakable sorrow and heartache, pain and unanswered questions. There are a lot of tears, and a lot of guilt. And if we are honest about it, there is a lot of fear as well. Fear that God’s love won’t be enough for her. Fear that Lynn’s evil death somehow robs us of hope for a life in Christ. But hear this and learn it well dear family: Lynn’s sin is not the measure of God’s love. God’s love is measured by the cross of Jesus Christ. 

The Scriptures put it this way, For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Trust in the mercy of God, dear friends in Christ. God loves you, just as He loves Lynn. Christ died for you, just as He died for Lynn. The Spirit comforts you now in your time of weakness and pain, for when you are weak, He is strong, and He will see you through this vale of tears to an eternal life in Him. 

Don’t be afraid. God never abandons nor forget His little ones. Speaking through the Prophet Isaiah He couldn’t be clearer: “I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands....” (Is. 49:16). Christ Jesus loves Lynn so much that He carved her name into the palm of His hands. And when if we look closely at His hands you’d see skin that is cut by nails, chiseled by pain, and then carved within the wounds of His nail-pierced hands is Lynn’s name.

The only one who can condemn Lynn for the manner of her death, is the very one who died on a cross for her – and for you. Jesus died, He rose again. Therefore, by virtue of Lynn’s baptism into Christ’s death and resurrection, she will be raised-up with all those with all who are baptized and confess Christ as their Lord. Nothing will be able to separate Lynn from God’s love, in Christ Jesus her Lord.

So, be at peace that Lynn’s name is carved into the nail-pierced hands of her Savior, and He will NEVER forget her.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.