Comforting One Another At The Cemetery

The Third Last Sunday In The Church Year (Trinity 25) 10-November-24
Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Sermon Theme: “Comforting One Another At The Cemetery!” I. Confess Our Faith! (Vs.13-14). II. Speak Jesus’ Promise! (Vs.15-18) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “Job 14:1-2 "Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. (2) He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.” Would you speak these words to someone as they stood at the grave of their children? Terminally ill sore covered Job speaks them to his comforters. Satan accused Job, before God, of only following Him because his life was protected and prosperous. If the Lord would allow Satan to take all Job had away in one day, then this supposed saint would curse God to His face. The Lord allowed it and Satan went to work destroying, stealing, and murdering Job’s ten children. Now destitute and poor Job knelt at his children’s grave to worship the Lord. He is grief stricken as he laments, Job 1:21-22 And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD." (22) In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”
    Satan, like a roaring lion walks about seeking to devour Christians. He isn’t content for Job still clings to his Creator. Satan wagers that if the Lord allow Satan to take away his health he’ll fall away. The Lord permits Satan to afflict Job’s health, but not take his life. His body breaks out with oozing painful boils. He is cast out of his community and sits in the dumps on ashes scraping his sores with broken pottery. Job’s wife speaks to comfort her husband: Job 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job won’t listen to Satan tempting him through his beloved wife. Job 2:10 But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
    History records that Job’s three friends come to comfort him. For seven days they say nothing seeing his extreme grief and suffering. Job breaks the silence deploring the day of his birth. His friend Eliphaz comforts him accusing Job of great sin to bring upon himself such great suffering. Bildad calls Job to repent and try harder to please God. Zophar calls Job to repent and become more spiritual in seeking God. Miserable comforters for Job - it is the empty comfort of worldly wisdom. Payback, karma, if you do more, pray harder, then your grief and pain will subside. These are lies which may temporarily numb grief, but offer no true comfort.
    Job is right, our life is short, we will stand at many a cemetery before our family stands by our grave. Where is comfort found? Listen! Learn!“Comforting One Another At The Cemetery!” I. Confess Our Faith! (Vs.13-14). II. Speak Jesus’ Promise! (Vs.15-18)
I.   Would we be attentive enough to hear Christ’s Word, learn His doctrine, and establish our own congregation after a missionary pastor preached to us for four weeks? This was the case of the congregation at Thessalonika in Greece. Paul, Timothy, and Silas arrived. History records: Act 17:2-4 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (3) explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." (4) And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.” The Jews aren’t persuaded stirring up a riot to dispose of Paul. The baby congregation sends Paul and Silas away to Berea - while Timothy continues to minister to them.  
    Paul rejoice in this infant congregation, for when they preached among them - they listened - receiving their word not as from man, but as God’s Word - Truth! On Tuesday of Holy Week Jesus warns His Church that false prophets, false christs, would arise peddling a visible kingdom of God. Modern day prosperity preachers promise a visible kingdom of God. Follow Jesus, buy our books, and you’ll be healthy, wealthy, and wise. Other false christs predict the end of the world and call followers to stand with them on a hill waiting - only to be proven wrong again and again. Then twisting Jesus’ clear Word claiming He returned invisibly and is waiting for the Church to return to Saturday worship. Other false christs claim they’ve discovered a “new gospel” on American soil - leading people from the real Jesus to trust their false Jesus - a burning in their bosoms. Beware of false christs, false kingdoms - Heed Jesus’ Word: “Don’t follow them!”
      False preachers had infested the Thessalonika congregation. They claimed that the resurrection had taken place - now only those who were physically alive would be with King Jesus when He returned to judge the living and the dead. Satan never allows a congregation to possess the Gospel in peace - beware of his lies - they bring no comfort at the cemetery.
        Learn to comfort one another by confessing our Faith! (Vs.13-14) Paul speaks to the congregation as family - they are beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember The Apostolic Faith taught you. The Apostles’ Creed which you pray morning and evening - aren’t empty words - they are words that comfort and encourage us in a death filled world. The Apostles’ Creed teaches us the true story of reality.
        Christians sorrow. As the Lord God sorrowed over Abel’s murder, as Abraham sorrowed when his beloved wife Sarah died, as the children of Israel sorrowed over Moses’ death, as David wept when his son Absalom died, as the mothers of Bethlehem sorrowed over the government slaughter of their infant sons, as Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb. Grief at death isn’t a sign of faithlessness - it is a sign of being truly human. Death is the last enemy we face this side of eternity. It is no friend, it brings no comfort to say, “They lived a good life” or “They are in a better place.” Death stings. The Law demands death of the sinner.
    Christians sorrow with hope! (Vs.14) “We believe” this isn’t my personal self-chosen made up beliefs gleaned from the internet. This is the Faith of Christ’s Church from the days of the Apostles which stretches back to Adam and forward to the last Christian reborn by infant baptism until Jesus returns. What do we believe? “Jesus died”. Christians fall asleep in death - death has lost its teeth - for One Man died for all - Jesus of Nazareth. The God/Man, the Lord of Life, swallows the cup of death to its dregs. He alone paid our full price upon Calvary - to be “Our Lord!” What does this mean? Jesus “has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom!”
    Our comfort at the death of a fellow Christian is that they are “in Jesus.” Baptized “in Jesus.” Gathered “in Jesus” every Sunday. Feasted “in Jesus” at His Table. Their death was forever swallowed up by Jesus - He had the power to lay down His innocent life into our grave! He had the power to take it up again! Three days - Sunday morn He physically marched triumphant from our graves! His resurrection breaks death, and robs our graves eternally! Here is our comfort! Jesus lived a perfect life for our sleeping brother, sister, mother, father, or child. His alone was the perfect sacrifice for their sins! They live! Their bodies may rest in the grave - it is only a sleep. Do parents of toddlers morn when they put their children to bed? No! They know bright and early the next morning they will see their smiling faces. You too Christian! This is OUR FAITH - we believe that God the Holy Spirit - the Lord and Giver of Life - On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. Comfort one another - learn to say, “Good night dear one! I will see you in the morning - the Day of Resurrection- in a little while!”  
  Nature itself teaches us this hope. Now leaves and plants die, but spring comes and new life will spring up from the ground! Comfort one another as you confess Our Faith at the cemetery!
II.   Grieving Martha ran to meet Jesus. If only Jesus had been there her brother wouldn’t have died. Our fallen fleshly reason loves to play the “if only” game - not willing to admit that our entire life is in the hand of our Good Shepherd. Jesus promised Martha that her brother would rise again. She knew in the future he’d be raised on the Last Day, but what comfort was that here and now? Joh 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. (26) And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
    Do you believe Jesus’ Promise? Comfort one another at the cemetery with His Word! (Vs.15) Jesus the Truth teaches that He is coming again! It will happen suddenly as lightning flashes in the sky. The world will grow corrupt as Noah and Lot’s days. The Church was reduced to only eight people of the 11 billion that lived before the flood. Not even ten faithful people could be found in Sodom or the cities of the plain. It is the same in these last days - the world grows evil, the time waxes late, be sober, keep vigil - the Judge is at the gate!
    The saints whose souls live in heaven with Jesus, won’t be left out of the great joy of reunion. Now they wait for the consummation of their salvation - the resurrection of their bodies and reunion of their souls to their glorified bodies. How long O Lord? (Vs.16) The Last Day will dawn with a shout of victory from our King Jesus - “I say to you ARISE!” Jesus promises, Joh 5:28-29 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice (29) and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” Baptism clothes us with Jesus perfect life and by faith in Him alone we are saved - we have done good - believing in the Father’s Son!
      Risen from death - it’s hold is lost on us for eternity. (Vs.17) We are caught up by the Holy angels to join Jesus’ triumphant march to reclaim creation as His own - filled eternally with righteousness, innocence, and blessedness - for He makes all things new. Satan, his demons, death, and all evil people will be thrown into the pit of hell eternally isolated and chained.   We shall be forever with Jesus - see Him face to face. Hear His promise! Mat 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Sealed upon you with water and His Word, Mat 28:20 ... lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
    Learn to confess with mourning Martha, Joh 11:27 "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." Comfort one another with Jesus’ promise:Joh 14:1-4 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. (2) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (4) And where I go you know, and the way you know." He alone is The Way, The Truth, The Life - our Path Home to our Father in Heaven! Job’s comfort was knowing that his Redeemer lives! (Vs.18). Speak His Word - His Doctrine to one another! Amen.