Job 19:23-27
To the family, friends, and all who
knew and loved Lenora: Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Lenora is a dear
saint of God. She was active in her
church, loved to serve with the other ladies in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League, and was even the hospital and Wedgewood’s volunteer of the year. There was much good that she did for those
around her but even more that she received from her Lord.
Lenora’s Jesus
loved her so much that He was willing to die on the cross for her, that she
would stand before the Father washed clean in the tide of His blood. Lenora’s Jesus loved her so much that He went
to the cross to win for her everlasting life.
But, Lenora’s Jesus didn’t remain in the tomb, but He is risen from the
dead! Death has been defeated; it no
longer has hold on those whom cling fast to His promise.
Though we’re in
the midst of Lent, today we get a glimpse of that Easter joy. Today we sing of Lenora’s risen Savior, the
One who died but rose from the dead and conquered death for her. We sing of the One who lives and reigns to
all eternity, who was in the tomb for three days but is dead no more. Today we heard the words of Job and sang them
triumphantly, “I know that my Redeemer
lives,” and Lenora trusted in this as well.
This Easter
proclamation is one of the last memories I have of her. Shortly after she fell asleep in the Lord, as
we were all leaving her room, I looked at back at this dear departed saint one
last time and above her head on her bulletin board was a purple cross, adorned
with Easter lilies with the words, “He is risen!” blazed across it. And that’s our comfort for today, right now… Our Redeemer lives! And because He lives, so does she!
Lenora’s soul is
at the side of the Lord, but our risen Jesus isn’t done in fulfilling His
promises. Today her soul is with the
Lord in Paradise, but her body awaits its raising to live forever, body and
soul, for eternity in the New Jerusalem.
She’s been given this because Christ has already put Himself into the
clutches of death but was raised again for her.
And this is the
beating heart of our Christian hope: that Jesus shall come again and raise
Lenora out of her earthen bed. The eyes
that are now closed shall open to behold her Lord, and not another. The mouth that is now shut shall open to sing
praises to her Savior. The ears that are
now stopped shall hear the sweet sound of her risen Jesus calling out to her,
“Lenora, wake up, it’s Resurrection Day!”
And this Jesus who
has gone into and out of the grave for Lenora is also for you. The Savior who has redeemed her body and soul
is also the Savior who has redeemed you.
Jesus has also taken upon Himself Your sins, and in Christ you, too, are
forgiven. Jesus comes for sinners-
that’s you and me. He died for you. He rose from the grave for you. Death couldn’t
hold Him! The resurrection of Jesus on the third day is the turning point in
world history that we, who deserve nothing from God, would receive everything
from Him. Forgiveness, eternal life, is
given to all who, in faith, make the same confession that Lenora made throughout
her life. For her Jesus is also for you.
Here is the
comfort for those who miss Lenora: God
made a promise to her and God keeps His Word.
Lenora was Baptized a child of God and remained steadfast in true faith
until the end of her earthly life. Jesus,
who never forgets His promises, shall make good. The trumpet will sound. The graves will open. There will be a reunion, laughter, food, and
joy; God’s people at peace, free form sin, from the devil, and from death. Thanks be to God. He does all things well. May He deliver us all in His grace to the
same blessed end. Lenora’s Redeemer lives, and so does she. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until life
everlasting. Amen.
