WHAT JESUS THINKS ABOUT FUNERALS

2-10-08

PASTOR LES SANDERS

MILFORD ASSEMBLY OF GOD

TEXT = Luke 7:11 – 17; 8:40 - 56

I JESUS AT FUNERALS!

A THE FAMOUS FUNERAL OF LAZARUS

John 11:33 - 44 (KJV) 33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35Jesus wept. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

1 PREPARED FOR THE GRAVE,

a BURIED FOR FOUR DAYS.

2 JESUS GROANED IN THE SPIRIT

a JESUS WEPT

b JESUS GROANED AGAIN

John 11:14 - 15 (NIV) 14So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Heb 4:15 - 16 (KJV) 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

3 SEE THE GLORY OF GOD

B THE HOME OF A 12 YEAR GIRL

Luke 8:40 - 42 (KJV) 40And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. 41And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: 42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

Luke 8:49 - 56 (KJV) 49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master. 50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. 51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. 52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. 53And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat. 56And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

1 SHE HAS JUST DIED,

a EVERYONE IS CRYING. AND UPSET,

b FEAR NOT

c WEEP NOT

2 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO

C TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL OF A YOUNG MAN FROM THE VILLAGE OF NAIN.

Luke 7:11 - 17 (KJV) 11And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. 16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 17And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

1 NAIN WAS OUT OF THE WAY

2 PROCESSIONAL CARRYING THE YOUNG MAN.

3 TOUCHED BY A MOTHER’S HEART,

II WHERE IS GOD WHEN LIFE HURTS?

A WHEN MY SAD HEART ACHES

1 WHEN I GRIEVE?”

B GOD IS RIGHT HERE!

1 HE GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO BE BY YOUR SIDE

a TO GIVE YOU STRENGTH,

b TO COMFORT YOU.

i WHEN THE ONLY THING YOU CAN FEEL,

(a) ARE THE TEARS ,

(b) YOUR BREAKING HEART.

2 HE LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO COMFORT YOU.

Isa 57:15 (NIV) 15For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

3 “DON’T CRY”...

a NOT A COMMAND BUT WORDS OF HOPE

b SHE LOST HER HUSBAND...

c HER ONLY SON HAS DIED...

d FACING A STRUGGLE JUST TO SURVIVE

III DEATH SEEMS SO SUDDEN

A SO PAINFUL

1 SO DESTRUCTIVE

a THINGS WILL NOT BE THE SAME,

2 SO INTRUSIVE

a ALL THE THINGS UNSAID, UNDONE, UNSEEN

3 SO FINAL,

4 NO SO FOR THE BELIEVER WHO HAS DIED!

B WHEN JESUS IS PRESENT FUNERALS ARE NOT A PLACE OF DEATH,

C FUNERALS FOR THE BELIEVERS ARE A PLACE OF LIFE,

1 A TIME OF REJOICING,

2 A TIME OF THANKSGIVING,

3 A TIME OF FAITH,

4 A TIME OF MIRACLES,

5 ONLY DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR PLANS

a INTRUSIVE TO OUR LIVES

D EVEN SO JESUS IS CARES!