James Johnstone, Sr. Funeral

Funeral  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Times like today as you remember your dad or your brother or your friend can be easy to feel alone. God walks with us in our suffering. God is not driven away from our brokenness, but draws near. He’s there for our questions, for our comfort, and for our good.

Psalm 23 ESV
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Funerals feel like defeat to us on earth. They feel like the end. But, Jesus told Nicodemas in John 3 that if a person was born again with a new heart that they would not perish but have eternal life. Jesus did that in Mr. Johnstone just a few years ago. And, that means, because his faith was in Jesus and not himself, in Jesus’ works and not his own, in Jesus’ resurrection and not his good name that this grave is not the end. It’s the threshold to a new life. And, it’s not defeat. Paul wrote in Romans 8:31-39:

Romans 8:31–39 ESV
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today, you’re hurting. You’re no doubt thinking of conversations that you’d like to have, stories you’d like to tell, and questions that you’d like to ask. But, because of the Jesus’ resurrection, we can be certain that today’s pain, sorrow, and suffering will not last. One day, you will cry for your dad for the last time. John writes in Revelation:

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 22:20 ESV
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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