A few weeks ago I took a funeral for a young man of 22 who tragically died on his way back from an army exercise. Approx 650 gathered, for a full military funeral, the following is my sermon from the day not because I think it is brilliant but because I hope it points people to the God of great comfort.
The Pain of a Lost Son
Passages: John 14:1-7
Ps 23:1-6
We come together as a community today to grieve
To Frances and her family – today is a testament to a well-loved son, brother, uncle and so much more
And so we grieve with you
We grieve of a man taken far too young from this world
It is clear from today that Stephen loved the Army
On the back of their cars they have blazoned across their number plates – serving the nation
Those involved in the Army serve us, they serve our country
The work of the Army is often not thanked enough in our public sphere – we remember at certain times throughout the year
We owe a great debt to those men and women who fight on our behalf
It is easy to see from today that there is a great and deep respect for you and an appreciation of the work you do
We want to thank you today for your service of this great nation
It is work that would take you to some very dark places
Confronting things that most of us would not even dare encounter
And even sometimes, as the Psalm writer says, into the valley of the shadow of death
The work of the army has won for us many valued freedoms that too often we take for granted
They are freedoms that we enjoy without realising the cost involved
Sometimes it is paying the ultimate cost – the loss of life
It is on this note of cost that the Bible speaks very clearly to us this morning
And it has something for us all to hear and take away
I can't imagine the pain of losing a son
Frances and her family are going through everyone parents' worst nightmare
And today is a time set aside for us to remember him
To grieve together the loss of his life
But then again it is hardly the normal thing for death to be a welcome thing to someone's life
No matter how much we try to fight the ageing process
Death is something that will come upon as all
I can't imagine the pain of losing a son
But God can
He willingly went through the pain of losing a son
Willingly put himself in that situation
so that we could gain freedom
He paid a high price and it was no accident
God deliberately sent his Son, Jesus onto a mission that would cost his life
The mission was one that impacted all of humanity
Each one of us today has been touched by the mission of Jesus
It was about reconciling a world full of people who have rejected him and his ways
Repairing that broken relationship
God knows about paying the cost
God knows what it is to lose a son
God knows what it is to suffer like we are today
God knows the pain of a lost son
THEREFORE
- God is a one of great sympathy and comfort
If there is one thing we all need on a day like today is comfort
And God is able to offer it
This is not a false comfort or a just a determination to look on the bright side
As it is said in the Psalm
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me
The Bible never promises a life of no suffering and no pain
It is very realistic about what life can throw at us
Even the events of the last few weeks
The promise of the Bible is not that they will never happen
But of a God who walks alongside us as we walk go through the valley of the shadow of death
Of a God who is not distant and vague
But one who knows and cares and can empathise with us on a day like today
God walks with us
And so we can say with the Psalm
The LORD is my Shepherd
God is like the ancient shepherd
A shepherd is not a weak man
But rather one of the toughest
Accustomed to fighting of thieves and wild animals with his staff and rod
This is the type of shepherd willing to lay down his life for his sheep
Here is a picture of a God able to comfort for he is able to ward off all his enemies for our protection
When Jesus was on earth he came as the shepherd Ps 23 speaks about
He came to guard us, guide us, live for us and ultimately die for us
The cost of the death of Jesus won for us a wonderful freedom
The freedom of forgiveness with God
Jesus asks his followers to demonstrate that same forgiveness in their lives
Frances, I want to thank you for showing and demonstrating the power of what Jesus came to do
For those that don't know
Frances is an active member of our church family
She is someone who knows and loves the Lord Jesus Christ
As I sat with Frances this week she has told me many times that she holds no blame for the tragic accident that occurred
No blame for the driver
But instead offering a hand of forgiveness
I'm sure that there would be many in your situation that would have responded very differently – be it with anger or vengeance – both of which would be unjustified
Frances you have shown the community gathered here today a better way and something important and wonderful and extremely powerful – the power of forgiveness
The story of Jesus is not just to his death on the cross
But Jesus was even raised out of the tomb resurrected from the dead
See it in the words Jesus says to his disciples and Thomas in the John passage as he talks about returning to prepare a place
Showing us that in there is a future place; an age to come where death will be defeated
There is a great and wonderful world awaiting those who walk with the Good Shepherd
Friends take these two passages with you
Comfort and console each other today
However God is the greatest comforter of all
b/c he is the Good Shepherd
Trust yourself to him
He will see you through all your trials
Even the valley of the shadow of death
And you are able to say
I will fear no evil
God is with me
His rod and staff they comfort me
