+ Betty Mae Frederick Nayes +
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Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” Jn 14:1
Jesus used these words a few hours before his death to instruct his disciples on how not to be troubled in death. He does not ask you to forgo you sorrow. He does not ask the impossible. Jesus is truly human, and is fully aware our human emotions. He, of course, is aware of the power of the resurrection as well, and yet, though He knew this He still shed tears at the death of his friend Lazarus.
Nevertheless, He urges us not to be troubled. How can that be?
Why Should We Not Be Anxious, Worried, When Faced with Death?
Why Should We Not Be Anxious, Worried, When Faced with Death?
Well, there are three truths Jesus gave to His the disciples, and to you, for comfort at a moment like this.
I. Because God is Really Here for You to Believe In
I. Because God is Really Here for You to Believe In
Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God”—God, who created us and all that exists, who is the Almighty, who numbers the hairs of your heads, who clothes the lilies of the field, who knows when a sparrow falls to ground. He loves you more than all the things He created. He gave his only Son to die for you, taking upon Himself the punishment and penalty of your sin. So, you can believe in God, who made and loved each one of us, to be with us. He also made and loved Betty.
The second truth Jesus gives to comfort us at a moment like this is,
II. Because Christ is a Real Savior for You to Believe In.
II. Because Christ is a Real Savior for You to Believe In.
“Believe also in me,” Jesus said.
Remember when Jesus visited the sisters of Lazarus. His calm assurance was
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26).
Also,
Watch as Jesus is crucified, and hear him say, “ ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).
Believe that the death of Jesus paid for all sins of all time.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7).
And,
Hear the Easter message of the angel:
“Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Mt 28:5–6).
Betty believed Christ gave her life — life to the full — in his resurrection, and her life was a witness to that faith. Her faithfulness to Raleigh was of great encouragement to so many, including me. 74 years of journeying together, even the last five while Raleigh’s been a resident at the Manor. Every single day Betty was there. When I’d pop over for a visit to bring the Lord’s Supper, Betty was there without fail.
As you all — especially you, Pam and Roxy, Jim and Gerry and Dan, and all you grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren — remember Betty, I hope you remember her faithfulness and give thanks to God that He placed such an example in your life. Certainly your Mom and grandmother was not perfect, but I think one could say she epitomizes faithfulness. She always made sure everyone was remembered on their birthday’s and anniversaries. And, of course, you could always count on deserts being close at hand.
The last truth Jesus gives to comfort us on a day like today:
III. Because There Really is a Place Prepared For You to Believe In.
III. Because There Really is a Place Prepared For You to Believe In.
Then Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (Jn 14:2.
It’s foolish to think we fully understand this picture, but we know this Word of promise comes from the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.
We give thanks for Betty’s earthly life and her Christian witness. We rejoice in her victory, the gift of eternal life, and the crown of righteousness she will wear for all eternity.
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim 4:8).
It was because of her Lord Jesus that Betty was a loving wife, mother and grandmother that she was so kind, and you just wanted to be around her. You see, Betty became a new creation in Christ when her Lord marked her as His own when He baptized her. Betty came through those waters, united to Christ her Lord, with a heart of faith, and love.
As the family knows so well, Betty always hosted an incredible party during the holiday’s where everyone would gather at their little house. And though some of you may be wondering, “Where will the party be now?”, I want to assure you that your Lord Jesus promises that He will never leave those who confess Him as Lord.
More specifically, Jesus will be with you and promises to do the following for you:
To strengthen your faith—so that you are not troubled by things we cannot understand, but will trust in almighty God, who made us his children through faith in Christ. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (Jn 1:12).
To strengthen your hope. as you continue to listen to his words of truth and life. Jesus is the one who has you in his plan, in his arms, in his love. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).
To strengthen our love—to care for one another as Christ cares for you, to help you. “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. . . We love because he first loved us” (1 Jn 4:14, 19).
This is how Jesus comforts us and all his children. “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 Jn 5:14).
We give thanks for the life and love of Betty Mae Frederick Nayes, and we give thanks to Jesus for loving her and for faithfully keeping His promises to her.
And now may we and at our last hour, trust in the comfort Christ has promised! Amen.