Funeral Sermon: Our Eternal Hope is in Christ the Lord

Text: John 11:25-26 (ESV) - "Jesus said to her, '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?'"

Outline

I. The Reality of Death and Grief (John 11:1-17)

A. The Death of Lazarus: A Reflection of Our Own Mortality

Illustration: The story of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, mirrors our own experiences with the loss of loved ones.

Argument: Death is an inescapable reality that brings pain and grief, yet it is not the end of the story.

B. Jesus' Response to Death: Compassion and Empathy

Illustration: Jesus wept at Lazarus' tomb (John 11:35), showing His deep empathy for human suffering.

Application: In our grief, we are not alone. Jesus understands and shares in our deepest sorrows.

II. Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25-26)

A. The Claim of Christ: Authority Over Life and Death

Argument: Jesus' declaration as the resurrection and the life reveals His divine authority and power over death.

Illustration: The resurrection of Lazarus as a testament to Jesus' power.

B. The Promise of Eternal Life

Argument: Belief in Jesus transforms our understanding of death. It is not an end, but a doorway to eternal life.

Application: In our mourning, we hold onto the promise of a future reunion with those who have died in Christ.

III. The Question of Belief (John 11:26)

A. The Personal Nature of Jesus' Question

Argument: Jesus' question, "Do you believe this?" is directed to each individual personally.

Illustration: Personal stories of faith and belief in the face of death.

B. The Call to Faith

Application: This moment calls us to reflect on our own beliefs about life, death, and eternity.

Argument: Our response to Jesus' question determines our eternal destiny.

IV. Living in the Light of Eternity

A. The Impact of Eternal Hope on Our Lives

Argument: Belief in Jesus' promise changes how we live today with hope, purpose, and a focus on eternal things.

Illustration: Examples of lives transformed by hope in Christ.

B. Comforting One Another with the Truth of the Gospel

Application: We are called to share this hope with others, offering comfort and peace in times of sorrow.

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John 11:25-26

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Word Study

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John 11:25-26 - "Jesus said to her, '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?'

(Read text here)

At times of loss and grief, words often fail to ease our sorrow. Today, as we gather to remember and pray for [Deceased's Name], we also confront the stark reality of death that touches every human life. Death is not easy for anyone. We want to cry out to God like Mary and Martha: Where were you? If only you had been here! Yet, we find in John 11:25-26 more than a simple answer or reply. We find the whole foundation of our faithand without the fact of death, we would not realize it. Let us see how Jesus offers us a promise that transcends the here and now, a promise of eternal hope to all who believe.

Imagine a ship in a tumultuous sea, battered by waves. The passengers are anxious and uncertain. Where is the shore? When will there be rescue? This ship is like our lives. We are all aboard it. We all want answers. But what do we believe?

I recall a moment from my childhood, standing in the midst of a vast field under the expansive sky. As I watched the clouds moving across the sky, I felt so strongly how quickly our time passes. The sun rises and sets and before we know it, so many years are behind us, as though it was gone in the blink of an eye. This realization gave me a strong desire for something constant and unchanging, a desire that I later found fulfilled in the promises of Christ.

In our lives, we all face the inevitable reality of death. Life often leaves us yearning for assurance and comfort. We need a guiding light even in our moments of deepest despair.

John 11:25-26, is set against the backdrop of a profound loss. Jesus is confronted with the death of His friend Lazarus, and it speaks into the heart of grief. This historical moment speaks, in fact, directly to our own experiences of loss.

In this passage, Jesus makes an enormous declaration: "I am the resurrection and the life." These words are a powerful claim about who Jesus is and the hope He offers in the face of death.

Today, we explore the depth of this declaration. We will see that in Jesus, we find more than a sympathetic friend in times of sorrow, more than a worldly savior; in Him we find the very source of life and victory over death.

How, then, does Jesus' claim as the resurrection and the life transform our understanding of death and offer us hope in our grief?

To grasp the full impact of Jesus' words, we will dive into four main divisions of our text.

1. The Reality of Death and Grief: Understanding how Jesus' response to Lazarus' death reveals His empathy and our shared human experience.

2. The Claim of Christ: Authority Over Life and Death: Exploring the depth and implications of Jesus' declaration as the resurrection and the life.

3. The Question of Faith: Reflecting on how Jesus' question, "Do you believe this?" is an invitation to each of us to find hope and assurance in Him.

4. Living in the Light of Eternity: Belief is not just a mental assertion; it is a way of living.

The Reality of Death and Grief (John 11:1-17)

The narrative of Lazarus in John 11:1-17 mirrors our own encounters with the death of loved ones. Lazarus was a dear friend of Jesus, but fell ill and eventually succumbed to his illness, much to the despair of his sisters, Mary and Martha. They were grieved much. Jesus was not in Bethania when Lazarus died. In fact, as His disciples pointed out to Him, the Jews wanted to stone our Lord and put Him to death. Therefore, they viewed returning to Bethania as an unwise idea. But Jesus insisted, saying that returning to Bethania would give glory to the Son of Godand that, besides, it would help His followers to believe more fully in Him. They, of course, did not understand these wordsbut Thomas remarked that they ought to go with Him and be prepared to die with Him, as He was their Master (John 11:16). For His disciples, they thought they were going to their own deaths by returning to Bethania, where the resentful Jews might be waiting for them. They did not understand that Jesus returned to show that He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Martha certainly did not realize this when she seemingly rebuked Our Lord for being absent so long while Lazarus lay sick. Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died, she said (John 11:21)as though He Who knew all things, He Who made the world, He the Creator of Lazarus, and Martha, and all living beings, did not knowor, somehow, did not care.

But is this fair? Not at all. She is grief-stricken and distraught. She knows that Our Lord can perform miracles. But what is the depth of her belief? She confesses that Lazarus will rise again at the time of the Resurrectionbut it is at that moment that Jesus turns to her and asserts fully, I am the Resurrection and the Life. Period. Full stop.

He then calls for Lazarus, who rises from the deadand He does this to give them all a sign that they might believe in Him. He does this knowing that the High Priest will hear of this and...

…instills a sense of hope, purpose, and a focus on eternal values that transcends the mundane and often challenging realities of our earthly existence. In this belief we are waiting for a future in heaven, yes; but it is also something that needs to be lived in the present with a perspective that is shaped by that future hope.

In his book "The Weight of Glory," C.S. Lewis discusses the eternal significance of our earthly actions and relationships. He writes, "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship."6 Lewis emphasizes the idea that our belief in eternal life should elevate our view of human life and relationships. It suggests that our interactions and decisions carry eternal weight and should be guided by the hope and reality of what we will one day become in Christ.

6 Lewis, Clive Staples, Walter Hooper, and Mary Wheeler.The Weight of Glory. Tertiary Resource Service. Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, 1987. Lewis_The Weight of Glory.pdf (orcuttchristian.org)

In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul urges, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." This passage encapsulates the transformative nature of belief in Christ. It suggests that our focus shifts from temporary, worldly concerns to higher, eternal matters. This shift in focus brings about a change in our values, priorities, and actions. We begin to view our lives not as isolated, self-contained narratives but as part of a larger, divine story that extends beyond our physical existence.

The application of the Gospel's truth, especially in the context of comforting others, is a vital aspect of living out our Christian faith. The hope we have in Jesus Christ is not meant to be a solitary comfort, but a shared source of peace and encouragement, particularly in times of sorrow and loss.

When we consider the nature of the Gospel the good news of Jesus Christ it inherently carries the power to comfort and heal broken hearts. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul refers to God as "the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." This passage beautifully illustrates the cyclical nature of comfort in the Christian community.

We receive comfort from God, and in turn, we are equipped to offer that same comfort to others. It is a divine cycle of receiving and giving, rooted in the transformative power of the Gospel.

Sharing the hope of the Gospel in times of sorrow involves more than just speaking words of comfort; it's about embodying the love and compassion of Christ. It's about being present, listening, and showing empathy. It's about gently pointing others to the promises of God in Christ the promise of eternal life, the defeat of death, and the hope of a future where every tear will be wiped away, as described in Revelation 21:4.

Moreover, comforting others with the truth of the Gospel is not limited to our immediate community. It extends to all who are grieving, regardless of their background or beliefs. This act of sharing comfort is a powerful testimony of the love and grace we have experienced in Christ. It's an opportunity to demonstrate the tangible reality of the Gospel in a world that is often marked by pain and loss.

In practical terms, this can take many forms: offering a listening ear, sharing words of hope from Scripture, praying with someone, or simply being present in a time of need. It can also involve practical acts of kindness, such as providing meals, assistance,…