From One Home to Another (2)

Introduction (2m)

My impressions about Joan

Clear from what I know of Joan/what we’ve heard about her this afternoon, she was at home, at home.

Youngest of 6, with 6 children, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren - no surprise!

Door was always open, breakfast in bed for children, seeing kids off to work in the early hours - all to create a loving, safe home.

Family builder.

Amazing - influence reached at least five generations.

Joan = all about home and family.

Explanation (2m)

God has prepared a home for Joan

Joan and John’s place in South Ham was never simply a house.

It was a home.

Joan spent most of her adult life providing a home for her family.

For her children, and then later her grandchildren, her great grandchildren and then her great great grandchildren too.

And now we learn from our Bible reading, her heavenly Father has prepared an eternal home for Joan:

John 14:2–3 NLT

There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

A Home Not a Mansion

Room > KJV: “mansions” — but not Buckingham Palace!

KJV - 17th century — mansions = modest dwellings.

In other words, a home.

There are more than enough homes in my Father’s home.

J says he is going home to his Father’s home to prepare home for followers/us.

A home with God.

Forever.

Abiding/Remaining/Spending Time

Joan loved being at home .

She loved spending time with her family.

Just being with them.

Greek word for “room” = gives us this sense.

Related to another Greek word = abide/remain.

Promise = death will not interrupt the intimacy we can enjoy with him now.

We can abide/remain with God in this life.

If we do so, then Jesus will come and get us so that we can continue to abide/remain with him for eternity.

Application (2m)

You Can Believe the Promise

We can choose to believe that promise for Joan and for ourselves this afternoon.

John 14:1 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

The Devastation of the Disciples

J spoke these words to his followers just when they most needed to hear them.

Last Supper.

He’s just told them going to leave them.

Whole world wrapped up with him for three years.

Now - J announces the end.

Disciples must have been devastated.

John 14:1 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

The Resurrection Guarantees the Promise

Promise is guaranteed.

Can be sure J will keep his promise.

How?

The empty garden tomb in Jerusalem.

If Jesus’s grave is empty, then his promise isn’t.

Death need not be feared.

We can die with faith in J’s promise.

We can allow resurrection to sink into our hearts.

We Will See Joan Again

Joan has gone away.

But you will see her again:

John 14:3 NLT

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Even as we meet to celebrate Joan’s life and to mourn her passing, we can accept J words: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled”.

We can imagine Joan today, entering into her home in heaven, closing the door on the outside world, sensing and resting in the cosiness of her new home, slipping off her shoes and slipping her feet into her comfortable slippers, and sitting down with her heavenly Father. Free from pain. Free from frustration. Free and finally home.

May God bless you all.