God’s funeral arrangements
Matthew 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
Funeral arrangements are always difficult. The family is grieving, saddened, possibly in shock. Still, they have to meet with the funeral director to discuss the casket, obituary and visitation. Then they meet with the pastor to discuss hymns, Bible readings and sermon stories.
That’s the role of the family – to make arrangements. But there are at least three people in the history of humanity whose family did not make the arrangements. God did. Let me briefly share with you these three great stories.
The first story is about Enoch who lived before the days of Noah in the Old Testament. Moses describes Enoch’s life, “Enoch lived 365 years. [He] walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:23-24). Walking with God and being in step with His will for your life is a beautiful description, but it wasn’t totally unique to Enoch. Others in the Bible have been described as “walking with God.” What made Enoch unique is that the Bible says he didn’t see death, but simply “God took him,” and “he could not be found” (Hebrews 11:5). It’s almost like they were out walking one day and walked further than they had ever walked before. God said to Enoch, “You know, we’re closer to My home than we are to yours. Why don’t you just come home with Me?” And God took him home. “And Enoch was no more.” God made the arrangements for his farewell. And just like that, Enoch was in heaven.
The second man God made final arrangements for was Elijah, the great prophet of God who had faced off against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Imagine those odds – 450 to 1. Only the one had God on his side. Shortly after that incident, Elijah and his successor, Elisha, were walking together near the Jordan when a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind straight into heaven. Like Enoch, Elijah’s earthly farewell and arrangements were handled by God.
The third Old Testament hero with a special end is Moses. When Moses was 120 years old, he was taken to the top of Mt. Nebo and permitted to see a glimpse of the glory of the long-awaited Promised Land of Canaan, the land he had given his life for. Because Moses had sinned by striking a rock in anger and taking glory that was God’s alone, he was not allowed to enter Canaan. But the Lord wanted Moses to see it from a distance. You see, the Lord had a better Promised Land in mind for Moses. So the Bible tells us, “And Moses the servant of the LORD died there. [The LORD] buried him, but to this day no one knows where his grave is” (Deuteronomy 34:5-6)
God made the final arrangements for Enoch. God made the final arrangements for Elijah. And He made the final arrangements for Moses. An interesting anecdote in the little book of Jude says that the Archangel Michael and the devil fought over Moses’ body. You know who is going to win that fight. And so Christian tradition says Moses’ body went straight to heaven and nobody will ever find his grave.
God made the final arrangements for Enoch, Elijah and Moses. Today we hear how God the Father was about to make arrangements for one more earthly farewell – His Son’s.
Just before Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the last time to give His life as a ransom for many, He goes up on a mountain with three of His closest disciples – Peter, James and John. There Jesus was transfigured before them. His figure changed. He was standing in His glory upon the mountain. God the Father was announcing His pleasure with His Son. Moses and Elijah were there to speak with Jesus “about His departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). Jesus ascended to the Mount of Transfiguration before He ascended to Mount Calvary. He stood upon the mount of glory before He was crucified upon the mount of shame.
These would be difficult days for the disciples. They had finished their three years of training. They would soon be on their own. They would witness some horrific events very soon in Jerusalem – betrayal, desertion, denial, arrest, mock trial, beating, scourging, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. They needed some encouragement for what was coming. That’s why the Lord took Peter, James and John – his future church leaders – and gave them a glimpse of His glory. When they saw Jesus being mocked as the king of the Jews, they could remember they had been “eyewitness of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
This year before we go into the season of Lent, we too, need a glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. These will be difficult days. We will come face to face with our sins. We will place our ashen crosses on the burlap banner to keep our sins always before our eyes these 40 days of Lent. We will wear nail pins to remind us that it was our sins that pierced Jesus and pinned Him to the cross. We will once again be making the funeral arrangements with the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday and with the absence of light on Good Friday as Jesus’ body is placed into the dark tomb. The purple and black paraments on the altar, pulpit and lectern remind us of our sorrow and sin.
These are difficult days for you. They are difficult for many of your neighbors, relatives and friends. There are layoffs and loneliness, depression and divorce, addiction, abuse and anxiety. Families are divided politically and spiritually. Gas prices are skyrocketing, tempers are flaring, tensions are high, while common civility is at an all-time low. Tumors, surgeries, Alzheimer’s, fevers, hospital visits and nursing homes are invading our lives. We are quite literally living in the valley of the shadow of death.
These are the times when we most need a glimpse of the glory of God. We need the white and light of Transfiguration so that we can properly view and endure the starkness and darkness of Lent. We need to see the glorious white and hear the trumpets today, for we daily live in the somber, dark valley of death. We need to be eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory for we are walking with Jesus on the dark path to the cross. What a relief it will be in seven weeks when we will once again see the glorious white paraments and hear the trumpets sound forth Christ’s resurrection victory.
The voice of God the Father came from the Majestic Glory, as Jesus, Moses and Elijah talked about the day of Jesus’ departure – the day the Father made arrangements for the death and burial of His Son. While all this was going on around them, the three disciples fell facedown to the ground, terrified. And don’t miss this little phrase Matthew records for us – “Jesus came and touched them.” Then he says, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” The same touch that cleansed the lepers, that restored sight to the blind, that healed the deaf and raised the death, now raises these three men and takes away their fear. Jesus is with them again. His merciful presence. His comforting voice. His life-giving touch.
Before they went down the mountain into the valley and across the plain … Jesus touched them. And took away their fears.
Before we enter the valley of death and cross the plain of despair, before we walk with Jesus these next 40 days to Mt. Calvary, feel His touch. Hear His voice. For we are cowering in fear of what the future holds. We are burdened by our sin and weighed down by our guilt. We are afflicted by disease, oppressed by evil, weak in faith and plagued with doubt. To us frightened disciples, our Lord comes quietly, gently with His touch and says with great comfort, “Don’t be afraid.”
His hand has poured His baptismal waters over you, making you His own dear child. His hand places His own body and His own blood onto your lips strengthening you for the days ahead. His voice speaks quietly, calmly in the gentle whisper of His words of forgiveness and absolution. He places His hand upon you as He gives you His blessings as you leave worship again today.
And through these Means of Grace, we who were once blind are given the eyes of faith. We who were once deaf are given ears to hear God’s Word. We who were crippled by sin are given the strength to rise and depart in peace. We who were once afraid can now walk resolutely with our heads held high in assured victory. We who were once dead have been made alive in Christ.
There is a question I always ask the family and funeral director when preparing for a funeral: “How many mourners do you think will be attending the service and coming to the meal?” That’s a difficult question and calculations are complex. Was the person still active in church? How many relatives can make the trip? What time and day will be service be?
Now, from New Zealand, another factor has been introduced. A New Zealand funeral home has had to stop a funeral crasher. That’s right; the man crashed four funerals a week. Though he was crashing other people’s funerals, he was polite and respectable, and he ate a pretty healthy, family-sponsored meal. He even brought Tupperware containers to take home leftovers.
Here’s the obvious difference with Jesus and the funeral crasher. Jesus doesn’t take. He gives. He gives life to the dead.
Look, no one can ever find the grave of Enoch. No one can ever find the grave of Elijah. No one can ever find the grave of Moses. Most importantly, the grave of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, cannot be found. Why? Because it is empty. Jesus rose victoriously and is now in glory with Enoch, Elijah, Moses and all the faithful. He has given them “a better country” and “a city prepared for them” (Hebrews 11:16).
By the way, God has made funeral arrangements for you, too. That little glimpse of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ is what’s able to get you through the world’s wilderness until you cross over into the Promised Land of heaven. But until then, as Moses laid His hand on Joshua, as Elijah laid His hand on Elisha, so Jesus lays His hand on you and empowers you to move from the mountain of temporary glory into the valley of death … and then once again to the open grave of constant victory and sustained glory.
Today we receive the foretaste of the feast, a glimpse of glory, but it is not yet time to ascend, but to descend. But there is nothing to fear for Jesus has placed His hands on us and said, “Don’t be afraid.” Do not be afraid for your sins are forgiven, your death is defeated and your adversary is overthrown. Your funeral arrangements are made. And your glorious resurrection victory parade in the Promised Land is prepared. Amen.
Last Sunday after the Epiphany, the Transfiguration of our Lord at Epiphany on March 6, 2011
Funeral arrangements are always difficult. The family is grieving, saddened, possibly in shock. Still, they have to meet with the funeral director to discuss the casket, obituary and visitation. Then they meet with the pastor to discuss hymns, Bible readings and sermon stories.
That’s the role of the family – to make arrangements. But there are at least three people in the history of humanity whose family did not make the arrangements. God did. Let me briefly share with you these three great stories.
The first story is about Enoch who lived before the days of Noah in the Old Testament. Moses describes Enoch’s life, “Enoch lived 365 years. [He] walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:23-24). Walking with God and being in step with His will for your life is a beautiful description, but it wasn’t totally unique to Enoch. Others in the Bible have been described as “walking with God.” What made Enoch unique is that the Bible says he didn’t see death, but simply “God took him,” and “he could not be found” (Hebrews 11:5). It’s almost like they were out walking one day and walked further than they had ever walked before. God said to Enoch, “You know, we’re closer to My home than we are to yours. Why don’t you just come home with Me?” And God took him home. “And Enoch was no more.” God made the arrangements for his farewell. And just like that, Enoch was in heaven.
The second man God made final arrangements for was Elijah, the great prophet of God who had faced off against the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. Imagine those odds – 450 to 1. Only the one had God on his side. Shortly after that incident, Elijah and his successor, Elisha, were walking together near the Jordan when a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind straight into heaven. Like Enoch, Elijah’s earthly farewell and arrangements were handled by God.
The third Old Testament hero with a special end is Moses. When Moses was 120 years old, he was taken to the top of Mt. Nebo and permitted to see a glimpse of the glory of the long-awaited Promised Land of Canaan, the land he had given his life for. Because Moses had sinned by striking a rock in anger and taking glory that was God’s alone, he was not allowed to enter Canaan. But the Lord wanted Moses to see it from a distance. You see, the Lord had a better Promised Land in mind for Moses. So the Bible tells us, “And Moses the servant of the LORD died there. [The LORD] buried him, but to this day no one knows where his grave is” (Deuteronomy 34:5-6)
God made the final arrangements for Enoch. God made the final arrangements for Elijah. And He made the final arrangements for Moses. An interesting anecdote in the little book of Jude says that the Archangel Michael and the devil fought over Moses’ body. You know who is going to win that fight. And so Christian tradition says Moses’ body went straight to heaven and nobody will ever find his grave.
God made the final arrangements for Enoch, Elijah and Moses. Today we hear how God the Father was about to make arrangements for one more earthly farewell – His Son’s.
Just before Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the last time to give His life as a ransom for many, He goes up on a mountain with three of His closest disciples – Peter, James and John. There Jesus was transfigured before them. His figure changed. He was standing in His glory upon the mountain. God the Father was announcing His pleasure with His Son. Moses and Elijah were there to speak with Jesus “about His departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem” (Luke 9:31). Jesus ascended to the Mount of Transfiguration before He ascended to Mount Calvary. He stood upon the mount of glory before He was crucified upon the mount of shame.
These would be difficult days for the disciples. They had finished their three years of training. They would soon be on their own. They would witness some horrific events very soon in Jerusalem – betrayal, desertion, denial, arrest, mock trial, beating, scourging, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. They needed some encouragement for what was coming. That’s why the Lord took Peter, James and John – his future church leaders – and gave them a glimpse of His glory. When they saw Jesus being mocked as the king of the Jews, they could remember they had been “eyewitness of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16).
This year before we go into the season of Lent, we too, need a glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. These will be difficult days. We will come face to face with our sins. We will place our ashen crosses on the burlap banner to keep our sins always before our eyes these 40 days of Lent. We will wear nail pins to remind us that it was our sins that pierced Jesus and pinned Him to the cross. We will once again be making the funeral arrangements with the stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday and with the absence of light on Good Friday as Jesus’ body is placed into the dark tomb. The purple and black paraments on the altar, pulpit and lectern remind us of our sorrow and sin.
These are difficult days for you. They are difficult for many of your neighbors, relatives and friends. There are layoffs and loneliness, depression and divorce, addiction, abuse and anxiety. Families are divided politically and spiritually. Gas prices are skyrocketing, tempers are flaring, tensions are high, while common civility is at an all-time low. Tumors, surgeries, Alzheimer’s, fevers, hospital visits and nursing homes are invading our lives. We are quite literally living in the valley of the shadow of death.
These are the times when we most need a glimpse of the glory of God. We need the white and light of Transfiguration so that we can properly view and endure the starkness and darkness of Lent. We need to see the glorious white and hear the trumpets today, for we daily live in the somber, dark valley of death. We need to be eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory for we are walking with Jesus on the dark path to the cross. What a relief it will be in seven weeks when we will once again see the glorious white paraments and hear the trumpets sound forth Christ’s resurrection victory.
The voice of God the Father came from the Majestic Glory, as Jesus, Moses and Elijah talked about the day of Jesus’ departure – the day the Father made arrangements for the death and burial of His Son. While all this was going on around them, the three disciples fell facedown to the ground, terrified. And don’t miss this little phrase Matthew records for us – “Jesus came and touched them.” Then he says, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” The same touch that cleansed the lepers, that restored sight to the blind, that healed the deaf and raised the death, now raises these three men and takes away their fear. Jesus is with them again. His merciful presence. His comforting voice. His life-giving touch.
Before they went down the mountain into the valley and across the plain … Jesus touched them. And took away their fears.
Before we enter the valley of death and cross the plain of despair, before we walk with Jesus these next 40 days to Mt. Calvary, feel His touch. Hear His voice. For we are cowering in fear of what the future holds. We are burdened by our sin and weighed down by our guilt. We are afflicted by disease, oppressed by evil, weak in faith and plagued with doubt. To us frightened disciples, our Lord comes quietly, gently with His touch and says with great comfort, “Don’t be afraid.”
His hand has poured His baptismal waters over you, making you His own dear child. His hand places His own body and His own blood onto your lips strengthening you for the days ahead. His voice speaks quietly, calmly in the gentle whisper of His words of forgiveness and absolution. He places His hand upon you as He gives you His blessings as you leave worship again today.
And through these Means of Grace, we who were once blind are given the eyes of faith. We who were once deaf are given ears to hear God’s Word. We who were crippled by sin are given the strength to rise and depart in peace. We who were once afraid can now walk resolutely with our heads held high in assured victory. We who were once dead have been made alive in Christ.
There is a question I always ask the family and funeral director when preparing for a funeral: “How many mourners do you think will be attending the service and coming to the meal?” That’s a difficult question and calculations are complex. Was the person still active in church? How many relatives can make the trip? What time and day will be service be?
Now, from New Zealand, another factor has been introduced. A New Zealand funeral home has had to stop a funeral crasher. That’s right; the man crashed four funerals a week. Though he was crashing other people’s funerals, he was polite and respectable, and he ate a pretty healthy, family-sponsored meal. He even brought Tupperware containers to take home leftovers.
Here’s the obvious difference with Jesus and the funeral crasher. Jesus doesn’t take. He gives. He gives life to the dead.
Look, no one can ever find the grave of Enoch. No one can ever find the grave of Elijah. No one can ever find the grave of Moses. Most importantly, the grave of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, cannot be found. Why? Because it is empty. Jesus rose victoriously and is now in glory with Enoch, Elijah, Moses and all the faithful. He has given them “a better country” and “a city prepared for them” (Hebrews 11:16).
By the way, God has made funeral arrangements for you, too. That little glimpse of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ is what’s able to get you through the world’s wilderness until you cross over into the Promised Land of heaven. But until then, as Moses laid His hand on Joshua, as Elijah laid His hand on Elisha, so Jesus lays His hand on you and empowers you to move from the mountain of temporary glory into the valley of death … and then once again to the open grave of constant victory and sustained glory.
Today we receive the foretaste of the feast, a glimpse of glory, but it is not yet time to ascend, but to descend. But there is nothing to fear for Jesus has placed His hands on us and said, “Don’t be afraid.” Do not be afraid for your sins are forgiven, your death is defeated and your adversary is overthrown. Your funeral arrangements are made. And your glorious resurrection victory parade in the Promised Land is prepared. Amen.
Last Sunday after the Epiphany, the Transfiguration of our Lord at Epiphany on March 6, 2011
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