Kennedy
Hewitt Funeral
[I
Thessalonians 4:13-18]
June
2, 2018 Union Funeral Home
“But
we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that
you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him
those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the
Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will
not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself 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 first. Then we
who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore
encourage one another with these words.” (ESV)
The
Christians in the church at Thessalonica in the first century were
concerned. They believed that Jesus –
their risen God and Savior – was going to return for all His people soon. And they were concerned. What about the people who died before Jesus
returned? Who about their friends and
family who died before Jesus returned – who would not be here to meet Jesus
when He returned? Would they be received
into the Kingdom when Jesus returned?
Paul
tells them – and us – we are right to grieve when a loved one dies. Jesus cried when His friend, Lazarus died. We are separated from a person we loved –
Kennedy will not be with us in the flesh for a time. There is an emptiness that hurts. But Paul tells the Thessalonians – and us –
that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We do not mourn as those who believe we are
separated from him forever.
Kennedy’s
soul and spirit have gone to be with Jesus – as Jesus promised the thief on the
cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
All who die believing that Jesus is God the Only Savior – at death –
immediately come into the glorious presence of Jesus and are filled with His
joy – even as their bodies are left behind.
Kennedy
was “a devoted husband, loving father, caring grandfather, and kind
friend.” He was a man who took pride in
his work, loved his family, and showed you how to give of yourselves in love to
others. You are here, his beloved wife,
Verna, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and family, and I
say to you, grieve, but have hope, because Kennedy received Jesus as his Lord
and Savior, so you will see Kennedy again.
And all who believe will be with him in the Kingdom of Jesus together
forever.
Paul
explains that this is our hope: since
Jesus physically rose from the dead, we will physically rise from the
dead. On last day, there will be a great
cry, the trumpet will sound, and Jesus will return with those who died
believing in Him – including Kennedy – and then all those who believe will
receive their bodies back, and those who are alive will join them – we will be
changed in the twinkling of an eye, and we will be brought into the Kingdom
where all pain and suffering are no more.
We will be together, alive, in the presence of Jesus.
Paul
tells us the last day will be like the scene of the return of the conquering
king: there will be a great sound of
triumph from the king and all those with him as they come close to his kingdom
– his city, and then, all the inhabitants of the city will rush out of the city
to meet the king, so they will all enter into the city in a joy-filled parade.
For
now, Paul tells us to mourn. Death came
into the world through sin. How could we
not grieve the death of a man so loved?
Remember
him – all that in Kennedy that was good and lovely and a joy to you – laugh
remembering the good times – and cry as well.
But have hope. This is not the
end.
Jesus
physically rose from the dead, and we will be like Him on the last day. Jesus will return, and Kennedy will be with
Him forever and ever.
Comfort
each other with these words.
Let
us pray: [see liturgy]
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