Lisa Mengarelli Funeral

Introduction

One of the most profound and life-changing statements ever made in history is found in John 11. It’s here that Jesus said,

John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

Jesus didn’t say these words just in passing. He didn’t say them flippantly. He actually said these words at a funeral for his friend named Lazarus who had been in a tomb for four days. And he directed these words to two grieving sisters who had just lost their brother.

Now, if you’re familiar with the story, you know that Jesus right after saying this raised Lazarus from the dead to show that not even death itself has any power over Him.

Now, these words from Jesus are the cornerstone of our faith and hope. And if what Jesus said is true, then it changes everything. If it’s not true, then there’s really no reason to listen to anything Jesus ever had to say.

But because we believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, because we believe that Jesus is the one who reigns over both life and death and that those whose hope and belief is in him will live forever with Jesus in complete joy and wholeness, then we can endure suffering, listen, with joy and hope.

I believe it was this past Tuesday, last week when it became clear to the family that Lisa was soon going to be heading home to be with Jesus. As soon as that reality hit the family, I believe it was Whitney who looked at me and said, “I hope you’re ready to preach the gospel at her funeral!”

There were a couple things that really struck me in that moment by that statement. And it wasn’t only you Whitney, it really was the entire collective thought and anticipation of the entire family. Ben, you had mentioned a few times to me that what Lisa would want most of all is for the gospel to be proclaimed.

And so, in that moment as the family had just come face to face with an incredibly difficult reality their reaction to that news wasn’t anger, it wasn’t fear, not even worry, there was grief and sadness for sure, but the first thing that struck me was that in that moment, was that in your grief there was a firm foundation and a desire to say, “let’s tell people how awesome Jesus is and that Lisa’s hope, joy, and delight, that our hope, joy, and delight is in him.”

A second thought struck me that day as I was leaving Lisa’s room and walking to the elevator. I was thinking of this exact moment right here. A moment where I knew I’d be standing in front of a large group of people and charged with the joyful responsibility to herald the good news of Jesus. And by God’s grace, that’s what I will do. But in that moment, I thought, you know, yeah, it’ll be my voice that people are hearing through the speakers because I’ve got the mic on, but what will be speaking louder and remembered longer than any feeble words of mine is Lisa’s life and testimony of God’s steadfast love and grace. A life that showed that she believed that Jesus reigns over life and death. A life that showed that even through suffering, Jesus is good, that Jesus is better, and God’s grace is sufficient.

And to the family, to Ben, I know you guys don’t want any attention brought on you, but I have to say it. I want to say to you all that how you have walked through this suffering together, resting in the goodness, in the sufficiency, in the sovereignty of God has spoken volumes. You have declared through your life that Jesus is enough, and that even in the face of significant loss, you have showed that if we still have Christ, we’ve won and will walk in joy and peace. And though I’ve sought through this last week and a half to encourage you, you’ve encouraged me, and have built me up in my faith. And so, thank you for your faithful and steadfast endurance through pain and suffering. Thank you for showing that Jesus is enough. That Jesus is beautiful. That Jesus is good.

There’s a reason why this room is filled today. There’s a reason why hundreds are watching online right now. There’s a reason why the visitation last night lasted for several hours with no shortage of people coming through the line.

It’s not just because the Mengarelli family and the Clark family are friendly and really don’t know a stranger. That certainly is true but it’s not the reason why this room is filled today.

It’s filled today because Lisa’s life was one that was characterized by both grace and strength through suffering and adversity. We’ve heard today and I think most of us know that Lisa’s life was no ordinary life. It was one marked, at least for the last 24 years with pain and suffering and yet her heart’s desire, because of Jesus, and the work he had done and continued to do in her heart was to serve and care for others.

I came across this quote from Tim Keller the other day and immediately thought of Lisa and her impact on others. He said,

“Painfully, suffering is almost a prerequisite if we are going to be of much use to other people. Those who suffer tend to be the most compassionate to those who suffer.” – Tim Keller

We’re all here today because we’ve all in one way or another, even if only through brief interactions with her walked away encouraged and built up when it would have been expected and even justified for her to complain about all that she was going through.

And yet, she sought to serve others as best she could. She put the needs of others ahead of herself. She showed compassion.

She did not live an ordinary life and her life, her legacy, her story, her identity will always continue to be through all eternity that Jesus was enough, that Jesus is good, that Jesus saves and restores and redeems and listen, he heals.

For the past week and a half thousands of people all around the country, and even around the world were praying for Lisa’s healing. And you know what struck me last Thursday morning when Lisa went home to be with Jesus? God answered our prayers.

How? Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Even though Lisa’s physical body died, she lives because Jesus lives. Though she’s not with us right now, Lisa is more alive and filled with joy than she has ever been! She’s healed. She’s restored. She’s whole. She’s in the presence of her Savior right now.

How is this hope possible?

In Hebrews 12, the author says that Jesus endured the cross, he took the shame, he willingly suffered and died so that those who place their hope and trust in him would be set free from the condemnation and shame that our sin brings us.

You see, our sin, which all of us are guilty of brings us nothing but condemnation and death. We’re all guilty before God.

Jesus willingly endured death on a cross himself so that death would no longer be our great enemy but that through Christ we would stand in victory and hope knowing that death does not any longer have the final say. On the cross Jesus took the shame, took our sin upon himself, became the curse, took the condemnation so that we would be set free to walk in joy and life.

You want to know why Lisa was able to endure suffering with joy? You want to know why she was able to put the needs of others ahead of herself so easily? Do you want to know why her family is able to walk through this trial, this suffering right now with peace and even, dare I say it, joy? It’s because her hope, their hope is in Christ. For Lisa, suffering did not define her, and she knew not even death would not have the final victory over her life.

This is the hope we have in Christ. This is the change Jesus does in our hearts and what Lisa’s life so boldly declared with every breath that God gave her was to trust in Christ.

With every fiber of my being, God has called me to faithfully proclaim the good news that Jesus saves but what I want you to hear this morning which I believe speaks louder than anything I can physically say is what Lisa proclaimed with her life: to turn from your sin which only leads to shame, fear, and condemnation and turn in faith to Jesus who heals, restores, and saves.

That is Lisa’s story. It’s a story of redemption, a story of grace, a story of strength because of what Jesus had done in her life.

There is no sin or shame in your life that the cross of Christ is not powerful enough to overcome. Our God delights to save and so if there’s anything that would bring more joy to Lisa and her family it would be to know that through her suffering and her story it caused you to finally give your life to Christ.

Dwight L. Moody is one of the greatest evangelists to ever live. He spent his life proclaiming the beauty and worth and joy of knowing Jesus. Knowing that one day his physical life would end he once said,

“Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all — out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”

Years later, Moody was on his death bed. Within hours of his going to be with Jesus Moody said,

“Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” “This is my triumph; this is my coronation day! It is glorious!”

Last Thursday morning, Lisa passed from this life on earth to life in heaven with Jesus. She had her coronation day. Crowned with the splendor and glory of knowing Christ and being found in Him. Crowned with the reality that sin no longer affects her, pain no longer has a hold on her, suffering for her is something in the past that she’ll never again endure. We do not grieve for Lisa; she is filled to the brim with joy in Jesus.

We grieve for ourselves that we lost a dear friend, a sister, a mother, a daughter, a wife, but at the same time long and yearn for the day when we will be reunited; when death will be no more; when God will wipe away every tear and we will forever be with our God.

Today is not goodbye forever, it’s until we meet again. So, let us rest in that glorious hope and encourage one another in the goodness and faithfulness and sufficiency of Christ. He is all we need.

(transition to 10,000 reasons)