The Rev. Paul J Cain
John 14: 1-14
My Jesus
Funeral Sermon for Marcia Nicks
Thursday of Advent III, 15 December 2011
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“My Jesus! My Jesus!”
The members of Marcia’s family could year the joy of faith
in these words, some of the last words of her life on earth.
Hebrews 13:14 declares, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
“Marcia took great comfort in Jesus’ promise to prepare an eternal home for
her: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In
my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that
I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not
know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am
the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you
do know him and have seen him.”
Marcia was a life-long member of Our Savior Lutheran Church
in Torrington before transferring here to Immanuel, a sister congregation of
Our Savior, by her own request this summer. Our Savior is the congregation
where Marcia raised Shari and Julie in the Christian faith and where she
herself grew in faith and knowledge of Christ.
Marcia had challenges in this life. Many might say that she
had more than her fair share. Marcia also abounded in the peace of Christ that
surpasses all understanding. Christ gave her peace the world cannot give, peace
the world cannot even understand.
She loved her family, and in so doing she was reflecting the
love that Christ had and still has for her. And she especially loved her girls
and her grandchildren. Marcia’s smile and faith both endured sad days, health
problems, and a miraculous 75 days without food. It was a privilege to bring
her the food of God’s Word in regular devotions since she relocated to
Sheridan.
Marcia was washed in the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus
Christ, who takes away the sin of the world, including her sin and yours. She held
to the promises the Lord gave to her in His Word, thankful for the robe of
Christ’s righteousness that was hers as a gift in Holy Baptism because of the
death and resurrection of Christ. She cherished her Bible. She chose the hymns
and readings of today’s service through notes she had left in her Bible, in an
afternoon of prayer, song, and Scripture in early October, and by how she
prepared to meet her Lord Jesus in her last moments.
Philip said to [Jesus] him, “Lord, show us the Father, and
it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you
still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can
you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own
authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works
themselves.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will
also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I
am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do
it.”
In her last hours, Marcia heard her name called. That in
itself was not unusual, for even family members knocked or called her by name
before entering her room when she was resting. This time, the call of her name
was different. It wasn’t the voice of either daughter in person or on
speakerphone. As her family gathered around her bed, she said, “Huh?” in response
to hearing her name called, and looked around the room. “Did you hear your name
called?” family asked. She nodded yes. “Was it Jesus?” Yes, Marcia nodded.
“When you see Him, it’s OK to go.” This happened once, then twice, not unlike
the call of Samuel in the Old Testament.
Consider the comforting promise and declaration of Christ
Himself in John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they
follow me. I give them eternal life,
and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
The second time Marcia heard her name called, she was more
verbal in her answers. “I hear Him. Where is He?” Moments later, she was heard
to say, “My Jesus! My Jesus!” with all the joy and excitement of a little girl
running to a loving parent. “Do you see Him?” was the obvious question family
asked. “Yes,” was her answer. “Is He standing here next to us?” The answer was
a smiling yes. It seemed that she was shielding her eyes from a bright light
only she could see. And she also said, “Hurry, hurry,” in eager expectation to
be with her heavenly Bridegroom, Christ, motioning to her hair as an invitation
for family to gently brush her hair to meet Jesus in person on her heavenly
birthday, her true homecoming.
Jesus said: In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were
not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself,
that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
And Marcia did. And she now enjoys paradise with her
Jesus—our Jesus—our common Lord and only Savior.
Marcia wanted to be prepared for the Last Day or when the
Lord took her to Himself, whichever came first. That is why her personal Bible
is so well-loved. That is why she put so much heart and prayer and thought in
to helping plan this very service, her final Christian witness to you, her dear
family and cherished friends. If you wish to honor her, prepare to meet Jesus
the same way she did, hearing the Word, receiving the Lord’s gifts and raising
her children as Christians faithfully adoring Christ the Lord, the king of
angels, Son of the Father now in flesh appearing! She knew that Christianity
was more than Christmas. Her salvation was won by Jesus’ sacrificial death and
victorious resurrection from the dead so that we may be with Him, freed and
forgiven forever.
Christians know that “when you lose yourself, you find the
key to paradise” (“Knee Deep,” The Zac Brown Band) in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
