Death is sad. Jesus is the resurrection and the life, yet even he became sorrowful and wept over death. The sadness of death is something many are facing and will likely face in the future. God has a surprising perspective on death and in his Word likens death to a planting. God's viewpoint on death can spring up hope in your season sadness. Join pastor Chris Fluitt as we share the Word of God.

This is Redemption Church in Plano TX and I am Chris Fluitt. I am so glad to be with you.

Dearly beloved we are here today to lay some things to rest… We are in the 5th week of our sermon series called Funeral.

Funeral

In week 1 talked about how to survive your funeral by holding on to the promise of God.Week 2 we talked about the year King Uzziah died; even in the worst times you can see God high & lifted up and bringing you victory after victory.In week 3 we told you that Jesus ruins funerals. He is the resurrection and the life and there is no grave that can hold your body down.And last week our Care Pastor Marshal Blessing told you about how God sometimes doesn’t intend for you to attend the funeral. As was the case when Moses died and Joshua did not attend the funeral. Perhaps God is transitioning you to something new.

Today I am going to tell you upfront, this is going to be a somber sermon. This is only natural because death is sad.

Death is sad

The sadness of death is something most of us know.  If you have never experienced the sadness of death, I have no pleasure in telling you that one day you will experience this sadness.

There is a physical ache in your heart because of death. Have you experienced it?There is a regret over what may have been said or what was not said before the passing of this loved one.There is this universal emotion that accompanies this phrase… “I just miss them.”

I am sorry for the sadness those of you have experienced even recently. I know people in this room, people I love, that in the past few years had to bury the loves of their lives. I am sorry for the sadness you have felt, and some days continue to feel. I almost don’t want to preach what God gave me to preach, because of the emotions this message might cause you feel.

We do not make light of death. Death is sad

Jesus is the resurrection & the life, but even He was sad about death.

We know that “Jesus wept” at the tomb of Lazarus.  You may have learned in Sunday school that “Jesus wept” is the shortest verse in the Bible.

John 11:34 (NIV) “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 

John 11:35 (NIV) Jesus wept. 

John 11:36 (NIV) Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 

The sadness and tears of Jesus communicated His love. The love of Jesus is so great.

On 3 occasions Jesus cries over the city of Jerusalem. (Luke 13:34, Luke 19:41, Matthew 23:37-39)

Luke 19:41 (NIV) As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 

Luke 19:43 (NIV) The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 

Luke 19:44 (NIV) They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” 

Jesus wept over the death & destruction that was coming to the people in Jerusalem. Jesus knew in 70AD the Roman’s would lay siege to the city and kill many. The prophet Daniel wrote (Daniel 9:26) about this event hundreds of years in advance.

Death is sad and Jesus cries about the future deaths of these people on 3 different occasions.

And Jesus cries when faced with His own death in the garden of Gethsemane. Here he prayed 3 times to be delivered from this death. It says he became sorrowful and troubled. It says that he prayed more earnestly and sweated big drops of blood. (Matthew 26, Luke 22)

Death is sad

It is ok to be sad. It is ok to cry. Death is sad.