Funeral Sermon for David Larson - December 4, 2010

The Church Season of Advent
Advent 1 – Ad Te Levavi
Funeral Service for David Larson
Our Savior Lutheran Church,
December 4, 2010

Readings:  
Psalm 23                 
1 Corinthians 15:51-57              
John 14:1-10

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“THE UNEXPECTED”

Friends and family of David, his brothers and sisters, nieces, and nephews and his many friends.  Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

David Larson was born on November 13th, 1959, and he was baptized into the Christian faith.  David was one of eight children and was member here at Our Savior Lutheran Church.  Blessed are they who die in the Lord, from this time forth and evermore.

The text for today’s message is the text from St. John the 14th chapter

Last week when I heard of David’s death I know that I reacted a lot like many of you did, shocked, bewildered, confused, and sad at such an untimely and unexpected death.  People who turn 51 aren’t expected to die so young, this kind of news which is just too much for us to bear.  But the unexpected happens in our lives and for David the unexpected help shape his life.  David grew up in Midland, graduated from Midland High, and a few years after graduation the unexpected took it’s toll on him.  Because David was involved in a terrible car accident, and was so badly injured he was not expected to survive.  The family gathered around him and supported him, and by God’s grace beat the odds and he lived. And the injuries to David’s body from that unexpected accident would effect David for the rest of his life.

But surprisingly all the effects were not so negative.  After that accident David went on to graduate from college, and he became content with all that God had given him.  David loved his family, he loved his nieces and nephews, and I know that he loved all children too.

In the Bible lesson I read a few moment ago, St. John wrote of time when Jesus Christ was explaining to His disciples something which they did not expect.  For something beyond the imagination of the disciples was going to happen to Jesus.  Jesus was going to be betrayed, arrested, and his closest disciple Simon Peter would deny Him.  All this was too much for the disciples to bear, they did not want to hear that their beloved master, friend, and leader was going to die, no they were just not ready for that kind of news.  

The disciples were really troubled.  The one person in their life whom they really loved was leaving them and they did not want Him to go so soon.  So Jesus comforted them by saying , “Do not let your hearts be troubled, Trust in God; also trust in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.” (Jn. 14:1-2)

Jesus was saying to them, Trust in God; trust in me Jesus Christ.  And trust is a strong term, it means to have faith and to have faith is to put yourself into the care of someone else.  That’s hard to do, and in human terms it’s even harder to consider.  We want our loved ones here and now, we want David here amongst us even though we know he is now in better care than this world could ever offer. 

Jesus had heard the fear in the disciples words, He was tuned in and so He wanted to calm them with the knowledge that though He was leaving, they too would one day again be with Him.  That is the comfort from the unexpected news.  From Christ’s unexpected death, comes for them, for you, the expectation of eternal life.

God knows that this world leaves us battered and bruised almost to the point of death many times in our lives.  Whether it be from physical pain or mental anguish, whether by the things we have done or left undone, most of those injuries we feel we haven’t deserved.  And it would seem that despite our best efforts to play by the rules and lead a godly life, we often end up with the short end of the stick.  Couldn’t Jesus just provide us with a model of how to handle all our unexpected challenges? 

Well, the reality of life is that this world is a place which we all must leave one day.  We are all sinners and we fall in this world.  David too was a part of this world, he knew that he was a sinner.  But at the same time David also knew that he was made a saint, that is he was made holy, by God in Jesus Christ ad that happened in the water combined with God’s Word in David’s baptism.  For there is baptism a promise is given, a promise from Christ a promise beyond human expectations.

Because, just like when David was baptized, and for all who are baptized into Christ Jesus, the Scriptures remind us “you were baptized into Christ’s death.  You were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4)  Christ’s death gives us the expectation of God’s glory for us.

So what can we expect in this world?  Well, there will be days which are filled with wonderful memories of loved ones like David and yet there will be other times when we and our loved ones will suffer and grieve.  That is the expectation of a Christian, it’s kind of like a rollercoaster, it has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, its straights and bends.  But we can always be reminded of what St. Paul said, “13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.”(1 Thess. 4:13)  And the important thing to hear from those words is what St. Paul is what he didn’t say.  He didn’t say expect to be free from grief.  In fact, we do grieve throughout our lives.  What St. Paul said was that Christians do not grieve like those who have no hope.  And the hope of a glorious reunion in heaven is exactly what we have hope for, it is exactly what we expect in faith.

I know that everyone who knew David misses him deeply. The reality of death stings.  In times like this we are surprised when death comes.  It makes us think of our death too.  And that cold reality of our own impending death, we stash deep in our thoughts, in the lofty places of our minds, mostly forgotten, except for days like this, then we are reminded of our own mortality.  But again, be comforted by God’s Word which tells us, “Death is swallowed up in victory, ‘O Death where is  your sting? O Death where is your victory?’  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”( 1 Cor 15:55ff)

 Especially in these unexpected times, hear of the salvation which Jesus freely gives to you.  Christ gives you the expectation of eternal comfort in the knowledge of residing in room in His Fathers house.  Jesus bears your griefs and He carries all your sorrows.  There is indeed healing, in His Holy Body and most precious blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.

As you fondly recall your memories of David, who loved life, his friends, and his family, stop and think just for a moment about this.  Though David’s death may have seemed unexpected, it was not, even David knew he was going to die.  And because David lived in faith, He also expected that in death, Jesus Christ would give him eternal life.  And Jesus Christ lived up to David’s expectations.  Jesus Christ died up upon a cross for David’s expectations.  Jesus Christ died for you to guarantee your expectations of eternal life too.  For Jesus Christ speaks to each of you when He said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”(John 14:2)  Be comforted with the knowledge that David, and all who have died in the faith of Jesus Christ, now reside in one of those many rooms, just as they expected.

Blessed are they who die in the Lord Jesus Christ from this time forth and forevermore.  Amen.
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