Sermon for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Luke 7:11-17

October 5th, 2025

Jesus hates death. You hate death. Death is never good. Death is not a blessing. Even when the person is suffering horribly and we know they are going to die, and we just want the suffering to end, death in and of itself is not a blessing. Death is the result of sin. Death is the ultimate enemy.

There is nothing in life more final than death. We have no power to stop it; we can’t undo it. And we can’t and shouldn’t attempt to soften the reality of it. When someone dies they are gone until the resurrection of the dead. On that day the dead in Christ will rise to live in paradise with Jesus for eternity. Those who die without faith in Christ will rise only to die eternally.

Until that Day the dead are not watching over us. They don’t know what is happening down here in this broken world. Thank goodness because they wouldn’t like what they see. The cardinal on your windowsill is not a messenger from a loved one who died. It’s just a bird.

We must speak honestly about death. Even when it hurts and talking about it feels like we are helplessly falling off a cliff into the pits of despair. Don’t gloss it over. Don’t soften the reality of it. Don’t glorify it. And remember, people don’t pass away. People die. No one has ever in the history of the universe simply passed away. No one. Everyone born of Adam – dies.

No amount of unscriptural platitudes or overused and meaningless euphemisms for death will ever bring true, eternal comfort found in Jesus. Don’t use them. Talk about death like a Christian and then cling to the Bloody Cross of Jesus and find hope because Jesus died and Jesus lives and so will you.

It hurts when someone dies that we love. And we weep. Death is not what God intended for us. It is not His will. We were not created to die but to live. Death is not natural. Death is the ultimate and final enemy. It is a battle to the final breath, until the heart is silent.

Jesus said: “Do not weep.” Despite the fact that death is the enemy and it’s not God’s will, Jesus said in the face of death, “Do not weep.” Jesus wasn’t just talking to this widow. Jesus was talking to you. “Do not weep.”

And yet we weep. And we should weep - for a time - but not without hope. Weeping for those we love who die is a good thing. When Jesus said don’t weep, He didn’t mean that death isn’t a time to weep.

Remember Lazarus, Jesus friend who died? On the way to the tomb of His dead friend - Jesus wept. Jesus hates death. It makes Him sad. So weep. Weeping acknowledges death for what it is. It acknowledges that death should not be a part of life. It acknowledges that life is a blessing and that person we love was a gift who should not have died. They should still be alive and with us. Our joy was greater when they were here full of life. Death hurts.

But weeping is only for the moment. The moment fades; eternity awaits for you in Jesus. The story doesn’t end at the grave. When Jesus said, “Do not weep” He was revealing a Truth beyond the ability of the eyes of flesh to see in the moment. Now we see suffering and pain leading to death. We see the shell of the body in the casket. We see the cold stone and the dirt thrown into the hole cut in the earth. We feel the finality. Grief overwhelms our emotions. Hopelessness fills our minds.

Jesus said, “Do not weep.” The grass always grows again where the dirt is thrown. Life returns to the dead in Jesus. The fresh cut flowers laid at the foot of the stone remind us of the One who gave His life that the dead in Christ might rise again.

The blessing we speak of as Christians when someone dies is not the death itself. Death is the enemy. The blessing is the reality that after the horribleness of death there is life for the Christian. Your baptism guarantees it. We can cry out in faith, “Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord. Blessed indeed.” Jesus said “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?”

The widow of Nain was faced with the hopeless, finality of death. First her husband, now her son. And yet in the midst of her hopelessness and weeping the dead came back to life. In this miracle we see what happens when death crosses paths with Jesus. It succumbs and gives way to life. Sorrow is turned to joy. Weeping to rejoicing. This the hope we have in life and in death. Even at a funeral there is hope.

In the miracle of the widow’s son Jesus interrupts a funeral. So this is a perfect time to speak a bit about the purpose of a funeral. A funeral service is not a celebration of life, despite what the godless world would have you believe. There is no hope to be found focusing on the life lived, the good things accomplished or how loved the person was. First and foremost the funeral service must bring the hope of the resurrection of the dead for all those who die with faith in Jesus. This means it must first confess the reality and pain of death. That death is real, it hurts, and it’s caused by sin.

Those at the funeral must be faced with the fact that we are all dying and the only hope we have is knowing that Jesus has already faced and conquered death for us through the Cross. Only then can we see the resurrection and have hope in the midst of death.

There is a time to speak of the person in the funeral sermon but only in so far as the fruits of true faith in Christ were evident in that person’s life. It is the fruit of faith seen in their life that is spoken of in a sermon. The most important fruit of faith we focus on in a funeral sermon is the faithful attendance of the person in the Divine Service throughout their life.

This is the number one thing that shows there was true faith in a person. Did they hunger and thirst for Jesus in the Divine Service? That’s why Richard Schaefer’s funeral sermon was so easy. We saw the fruit of true faith in his life in the church. He wanted to be here. And he feasted on the fruit of the Cross in the Divine Service nearly every Sunday of His life. Jesus kept his faith alive until his final day. Richard died but he will rise again.

When a member dies who has not been a faithful and frequent member in the Divine Service, the service is difficult; the sermon is difficult. Because the number one fruit of faith was not seen in their life. It matters. Be in church. Be fed. Often. The Day is drawing near. Tomorrow is too late.

One final thing on funerals. The hymns matter. The hymns at a funeral at St. Paul before during or after the service can only be from our hymnal. No exceptions. And even those hymns chosen should confess the hope we have in Christ who died for us. Not all the hymns in our hymnal do this. Many hymns in our hymnal are not very good, especially for funerals. Unfortunately most often the hymns chosen at funerals are ones that are not good or fitting for a funeral. They do not confess what the living need to hear as they mourn in the midst of death.

Most are chosen for sentimental reasons and not with the hope of confessing our redemption through Jesus Christ crucified and risen for us. It doesn’t have to be that way. God has given you a pastor to bring you Jesus at every service that takes place in this building. That includes funerals. Let your pastor do the job God has called me to do.

It’s my job to confess Christ clearly in the midst of death at a funeral service. It’s my job to find the hymns and the readings that do that best. It’s not your job; it’s not your families job. Your work is finished on that day. Let your pastor be your pastor, even in your death.

If you feel the need to have your funeral planned before you die, come and talk with me. Together we will find hymns and Scripture readings that clearly proclaim Christ crucified and risen, so that your family and friends will find peace in the midst of their weeping at your death.

The day is drawing near for all of us. Now is the time to speak clearly and plainly of the hope we have that death will not have the final say. Jesus does. The Day is coming when Jesus will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise. You will rise. Those you love who died in Jesus will rise. And we will sing, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Until that great Day you have a guarantee of paradise at the resurrection. It’s not flashy, it doesn’t bring great excitement or cheers of joy from the crowds. It’s simple, it’s repetitive, it’s powerful. It’s the heartbeat of your life in the midst of death.

It’s your death and rebirth at the font. It is Jesus given to you in Words that are immortal and life itself. Jesus is the very Word that enters your being and brings life back to the dead. It’s the gift received at the rail that is the medicine of immortality. It’s not a dead, empty symbol. It’s the very flesh that died and then rose again. It’s the very blood that spilled on Calgary and yet still flows through the veins of the risen Jesus who is in our midst today. He puts Himself into your dying flesh and you live.

Once again today your death has crossed paths with Jesus. Jesus has met you on your way to the grave. Jesus has touched you with His life spoken into you. You will rise again. So don’t weep. Continue pressing forward in Jesus toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

You will suffer for a little while, but the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will not abandon you. He will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you for eternity. You will rise again at the resurrection of the dead in Christ Jesus. To him be the dominion, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. In Jesus name. Amen.