Joe Barthel's Funeral

I am thankful for Covid-19. There are two reasons why I am thankful. First is that it showed us our weakness, and our total dependence upon God. An elder here at Maranatha described it like trying to build an airplane while flying it! But God has brought us through, no, not unscarred, we’ve all experienced loss during this time. It is my hope, my prayer, that this time has brought us all closer to God.

The second reason I am thankful for Covid-19 is that it gave me the opportunity to get to know my friend Joe. For a time, Joe and I were be the only ones in the church building when he came to count the offering. After doing what needed to be done, he’d come and hang out with me in my office.

We’d spend the next while just chatting about this, that and everything. Lots of times, we talked about faith.

Joe was confident in Jesus, his Good Shepherd. Psalm 23 was a favourite because he lived it. He experienced God’s blessings. He trusted in Jesus as he and Johanna journeyed life together. Joe believed in the Lord Jesus, and trusted him. Joe exercised his faith in a very simple, but effective way. He took Jesus at his promises, and he followed through with trust. Joe didn’t seem to get too worked up about anything. He seemed to take everything in stride.

Joe did this because he had learned the lesson from experience. I won’t go into details, but he once did something he regretted. He confessed to God, and gave it over to him. When I asked him if he knew that God had forgiven him he said, “Yes, I know he has.” From then on, Joe trusted Jesus to lead him in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. And for nearly 40 years, Joe quietly served the Lord by recording all the giving at Maranatha.

Joe was a conservationist. I believe he was reducing, reusing and recycling long before it became a thing. I grew to love receiving the quarterly giving statements, just to see what paper he’d recycled, not to mention the envelope! Joe was meticulous! A good quality to have in someone who counts offerings to God.

Joe had the unshakable faith that his life was in God’s hands. Joe experienced God’s searching. He knew where he stood with God. He knew that he brought nothing to God’s table. He knew that God knew him inside and out. No matter where he was in life. no matter what he was going through, he simply trusted God to lead him. He knew God had him covered, from behind and before, God’s hand was upon him, to protect him from the evil one.

Joe, as I shared already, wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t a perfect husband, he wasn’t a perfect father. He knew that. So he trusted in Jesus’ perfect life. Joe knew that God already knew everything about him, good, and bad. God made Joe. God knitted him together. God wove him, with all the personality, all the character, all the sense of humour he had. We shared quite a few laughs, even when he was at St. Mike’s.

Joe knew that God made him, and ordered all his days, even before the first one began. And so, Joe trusted that God was with him. And He was.

And now Joe is with God. Joe has finally seen with his eyes what he longed to see. Joe is with Jesus, his living Redeemer.

Many people wonder what happens when we die. For those who are in Christ, those, who like Joe, have simply trusted in Him for their salvation, believing that Jesus has fully atoned for, paid for their sin, they can rest assured that upon their death, they go to be with him. One of the men crucified at the same time as Jesus, simply asked, “Remember me when you enter into your kingdom.” And Jesus promised him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Joe is with Jesus, in spirit. His body remains here, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. But Joe’s hope, all Christian hope is more. One day, Christ will return.

Our Redeemer, at the last, on the last day, will stand upon the earth. And on that day, all who died in Christ will have their flesh restored to them. This is the bodily resurrection.

At that moment, all who are in Christ Jesus, all who believe in him in this life, will, in their flesh, see God.

Joe loved Johanna dearly. You could see it. He wanted to go to be with Jesus, but he also wanted to stay with Johanna. He loved his family, his children, his grand children and his great grand children. He loved his friends, the connections, and the visits from family and friends, the cards and the letters the last few months.

He loved his church family, Maranatha. He loved serving the Lord with his gifts. Joe didn’t think more highly of himself than he ought. He was aware of his strengths as well as his weaknesses, but he was at peace with it all. I believe he, like the apostle Paul, had learned the secret of being content. So, when his health deteriorated, he considered his life, and was content with how he’d lived. Make no mistake, a part of him deeply wished to stay here longer, continue to be with Johanna, to continue to spend time with his family and friends. Even though over the last year he’d talked about giving up his work on the counting committee, I’m sure he’d have loved to continue doing that also!

These three passages, Psalm 23, Psalm 139, Job 19, sum up Joe’s faith in God. Joe had a practical, common sense faith. He knew God his Shepherd. He received from God good things, even when surrounded by enemies, even when walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Joe knew and understood that God knew him, inside and out, good and bad. Joe trusted God’s timing. Joe also longed to be with Jesus, knowing that to be with Jesus is the best thing in the entire universe. To see God, to dwell in his house forever, that’s what Joe lived for.

Family, friends, loved ones, what about us? What is God teaching us through is servant Joe’s life and faith? Do we know the Good Shepherd? Do we trust him to provide for all our needs, do we trust him to walk with us, even through the valley of the shadow of death, this very path we are walking now? Do we trust Him who made us, who lovingly fashioned us? Do we put our hope in Christ Jesus who conquered death, paid for all our sins, who offers forgiveness, love and peace? Do we long to dwell in God’s house forever?

Joe would say it is simple. Just trust and believe in Jesus. He would say, faith in Jesus Christ is simple, take hold of it today. Amen.