Roger Louise Atkinson Funeral

Matt Horine

Funeral • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Opening Scripture

Psalm 61:1–4 (ESV)

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!

Message

One of the most profound and life-changing statements, in my opinion ever made in history, was made at a funeral and it’s found in the gospel of John 11.

It’s here that Jesus said,

John 11:25 (ESV)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

As I said, Jesus said these words to two grieving sisters at the funeral of their brother, Lazarus

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 the Christian faith. Everything rests on the validity of that statement, He is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him will never die. And, so 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. This matters.

When we come face to face with loss we’re reminded of the frailty and brokenness of life.

It’s this world that Jesus entered into. He didn’t stand at a distance, he entered into the mess, into the pain, into the suffering to reveal a new kind of life, a new kind of hope that through faith in Him brings joy and peace that our weary souls long for.

He entered into the funeral and mourning of those two grieving sisters in John 11. He grieved with them but then drew their hearts to a greater hope that transcends the power of death. To us, death seems so final, but not to Jesus. He reigns over it.

A few chapters later in John, he encouraged his weary disciples who were struggling with the suffering of this world and he again draws their eyes and hearts to a greater hope that transcends the here and now.

He said to them.

John 14:1–3 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

This here is probably the greatest promise ever made because it was,

Number one,

Made by the greatest person who ever lived.

Never has there ever been another person who has changed the course of human history like Jesus has.

For sure, there have been many who have come and gone who have made impacts in the world, but no one, aside from Jesus has ever determined the course of history.

Jesus speaks and the wind and sea obey him.

Jesus speaks and the sick are healed.

Jesus speaks and those dead in sin are brought to life.

There’s been no one else quite like Jesus.

But this is also the greatest promise ever made because secondly,

It’s about the greatest place ever imagined.

Man’s greatest efforts pail in comparison to what God has for those who belong to him.

And yet, remember what I said. What makes heaven, heaven is the presence of Jesus. Isn’t that what Jesus said in John 14? “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Remove Jesus from heaven and you don’t have heaven.

We were created to walk and live in a relationship with God. It’s what we were designed for. To be with Him.

You see, what God is doing and working together through Jesus the Son is a life where all things are made new again. Life free from pain, free from suffering, free from hardships, free from death.

And this is what awaits those who belong to Christ.

This is the greatest promise ever made because, thirdly,

Its purpose is our eternal comfort.

Remember what Jesus said in John 14 to his disciples who were going to face intense suffering. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.”

For the one who hopes in Jesus, and I know this sounds bizarre but it’s true, death isn’t something to be feared because our ultimate hope and belief are in a risen Savior. Eternal life with Jesus is a life that will be free from pain, free from the suffering that we face in this world.

Scripture says there’s coming a day when death will be no more, no more suffering, no more pain, he’ll wipe away every tear from our eyes.

And so, Jesus’ words to his disciples are words for us to hold fast to as well because the promise remains. “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” He is faithful and good.

This is the greatest promise ever made because, fourthly,

It rests on the greatest proposition.

Jesus said, “Listen, you believe in God, believe in me.”

You see, this promise is certain for all who believe. Well, believe what? Believe in Jesus.

The heart, the message, the essence of the gospel is simply this.

God is holy, he is the creator and sustainer of all life. In fact, all life exists because he says so and all life exists for the glory of God.

But just as holy as God is, we are just as sinful and unholy. We’re rebels and traitors of God looking to find life, hope, and meaning in God’s creation rather than in God himself.

And because of that, we’ve brought upon ourselves his judgment and wrath for our sin and betrayal.

And our only hope of redemption and reconciliation and restoration with God is not in our good works, it’s not in our religious piety. It’s in resting completely and fully in the person and work of Jesus on the cross. Faith in his life, his death, and his resurrection.

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, and took the condemnation so that we would be set free to walk in joy and life.

And for those who turn from their sin, repent, and turn in faith to a God who loves them and died for them they find eternal life, they find purpose, they find hope.

Jesus wasn’t saying here to believe certain facts about him, he said, believe in me, rest in me, hold fast to me, follow me and you’ll find what you were created for.

Roger & Louise believed this. And because of that, they’re more alive today than they ever have been. How? Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

That’s the power of God’s grace and forgiveness. There is no sin or shame in your life that the cross of Christ is not powerful enough to overcome.

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.

This is the promise Jesus gives us in himself. “I’m the resurrection and the life. Believe in God, believe also in me.”

He points us to a greater hope. An everlasting peace. A hope that is far superior to anything the world can offer us.

One of my favorite authors, Tim Keller says,

“The world can only give us peace that says, “It probably won’t get that bad.” Jesus’s peace is different. It says, “Even the worst that can happen—your death—is ultimately the best thing that can happen. We all long for a “place” that is truly home. Jesus says that it awaits you.”

That’s what we saw in John 14. A better place, a better home.

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.

Prayer

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (ESV)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Job 1:20–21 (ESV)

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”