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Alleluia! ΙΗϹ Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

᛭ INI ᛭

What’s needful on a day like today? What can even be said?

Well, we don’t need good words. Many good words are said all over the world for those who die. Obituaries and memorial stones are full of these good words. Good words for the deceased are a dime a dozen.

We also don’t need beautiful words or beautiful art. There are many people, again, all over the world who added beauty to it, like Barbara did, as many of you well know, especially you Ken; and Hannah, Luke, Ben, and Mark; Carolyn, Leon, and Brad(ley). There are things of beauty that those gifted and talented in fashioning the beautiful leave behind. But again this happens all over the world. And such things, for most, fade over time, “like flowers that whither and decay,” (LSB 344) as a hymn puts it.

What’s needful on a day like today? We don’t need what’s good or what’s beautiful. What we need is what’s true. Not just true about Barbara. No, what’s true FOR her. What’s true FOR YOU. What’s true—truth—is then both good and beautiful FOR YOU and for all. So, what is needful and true on a day like today? Easy:

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU.

(I. This is the truth preached by the Apostles (1 Cor 15) and Prophets (Job 19))

“CHRIST IS, in fact, RISEN FROM THE DEAD, the firstfruits of them that sleep.” Of this the Apostles were all eyewitnesses. John saw Him dead, as did the women. They saw Him alive again, so did John and the rest of the Apostles. So did James, the Lord’s stepbrother, who formerly did not believe. So did Paul, who had been a persecutor of the Church. All held that truth firmly to the grave, that CHRST IS, in fact, RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

Of this all the prophets testify: “He was raised according to the Scriptures.” So also Job’s prophecy: “For I know that My Redeemer lives, and on the Last Day He shall stand on the earth.” “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow” (1-Pet 1), that is, His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God the Father.

(Transition)

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.

It is true. Paul’s defense is the best, far better than my brief one. It is true, but it is also good and beautiful. Christ’s resurrection is the one thing needful for today. But a second needful thing is like unto it. As Paul says, “Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” To put it another way: CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU.

(II. He shares His resurrection with His sheep.)

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU means that He doesn’t just not stay dead. It’s that He shares His resurrection with His sheep, those who believe in Him. That’s what Christ says in John chapter 10. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” This promise Job also believed and prophesied beforehand: “After my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.”

Christ shares His coming back to life and His empty tomb with His sheep. He shared the death of His sheep. Each lamb’s death, His own, even Barabara’s. The journey “through the valley of the shadow of death” she traveled was a path that her Lord Christ already traveled for her. Through suffering and death for her sake, He shed His blood for her and her sins. He went into death and the grave for her sake also. “The wages of sin is death,” (Rom 4) and so those very wages Christ Himself claimed. Christ also burst forth from death, His grave was empty. Now He lives and reigns forever, “death has no more power, [dominion, lordship] over Him.” (Rom 6)

When Christ shepherds His sheep through the gate of death and the grave, He’s leading them in the paths of His righteousness the whole way. He gives rest and peace to their souls. He enlivens their trust in Him. He gives the down payment for their own resurrection through the flesh and blood, died then raised, for them. So it was for Barbara, and all those whom the Lord Christ calls to Himself.

He is with them through the valley of the shadow of death, until they “depart in peace according to His Word,” and He brings them to Himself. That’s His baptismal promise. I am with you always, even to the end of the age, so also the end of your life. He washed them in the calm streams of living waters. The river of the fountain of life flows through each font as the water and Word baptize each lamb in Christ. He opens heaven before them through the absolution. He proclaims them His. So it was for Barabara. So it is for all you who believe and are baptized…

When the earthly physicians failed, the great Physician took completely over. Our years, our months, our days are all in His hands. The pass according to His will. And for 20 days the Lord confounded us all, giving the good and beautiful gift of a wife and mother and grandmother and sister and friend who was His good and beautiful instrument for you. And yet it was all His doing, not through Barbara’s strength, or any human measure, but the one thing needful in the face of death: the Medicine of Immortality, His body and His blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Given to eat and to drink that we would not die eternally but rather live with Christ forever. As it is for all who believe and eat and drink and live forever with Him. “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will resurrect him on the Last Day.” (Jn 6) So it is now for Barbara.

(Conclusion)

What’s needful on a day like today? We don’t need good words. We don’t need beautiful words. We need true words. We need the truth. And the truth is this:

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU.

The Prophets promised it. The Apostles saw it. Christ did it. “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” So He did, for Barbara and for all, for you, too. And Christ promises it for you, too, since He shares His resurrection with His flock, His church, even each sheep. “And every child of seven years old knows what the Church is, those believers who hear the voice of their shepherd.” This He gives to His sheep who believe in Him, to you, even as He gave it to Barbara. He shares it in Baptism, His Holy Word, and Supper, for

CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD FOR YOU.

Alleluia! ΙΗϹ Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

᛭ INI ᛭