“Our Creating & Redeeming Savior” Revelation 21.1-7 & John 10.10b-15, 27-30, Harland Hansen Funeral Sermon

1.      Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Dear family and friends of Harland.  On behalf of the congregation here at Christ Lutheran we offer to you our deepest sympathy.  But, we know as Christians that this isn’t the end for Harland, but just the beginning.  The beginning of eternal life with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Life may have begun for Harland at his birth in Pine River on August 15, 1918, but he entered into God’s heavenly Kingdom through the waters of holy baptism when he was baptized at St. John's Lutheran Church in Saxeville.  It was the power of God’s Word and the water in baptism that cleansed Harland of his sin and gave to him the assurance that he was a follower of Jesus Christ.

2.      There are a lot of things that we can remember about Harland.  But, one of the things that stands out the most is that he was a hard worker.  His biography gives us a good summary of his work ethic.  Harland grew up on a farm and farmed throughout his life.  He served in the CCC.  Harland served his country in the U.S. Navy in W.W. II.  He worked for many years as a machinist for Rockwell International in Oshkosh.  He was a lifetime member of the American Legion.  Harland enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, travel, woodworking, family and his dogs.  And, he was an active church member here at Christ Lutheran Church in West Bloomfield.

3.      People who knew Harland know that he loved to work with his hands.  He learned this from growing up on a farm and enlisting in the Navy.  He would carry that strong work ethic throughout his whole life.  It’s because of Harland that we have the wooden individual cup dispensers up here near our altar.  Harland was the one who helped to treat the wooden floors that we have in our Christ Lutheran gymnasium.  He was also gifted in making beautiful wooden clocks as well.  His life exemplified the importance of hard work and laboring for the Lord.  Through his hard work he was able to show how much he cared for his family, friends, and his church. 

4.      I recently read a story that exemplifies Harland’s love to work with his hands and to show through his labors how much he loved those around him.  The story begins with a young boy seeing his grandfather look at his hands while seated on a patio bench outside.  The boy recounts what his grandfather said to him after he asked why he was looking at his hands:  “Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,” said Grandpa.  “I didn’t mean to disturb you, grandpa, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK.” The boy said.  “Have you ever looked at your hands?” grandpa asked.  “I mean really looked at your hands.”  I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.  I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.  No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point he was making.  The boy thought.

5.      Grandpa smiled and related this story:  Stop and think about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years.  These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and embrace life.  They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor.  They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back.  As a child my mother taught me to fold them in prayer.  They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent.  They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn sons and daughters.  Decorated with my wedding band they showed this world that I was married and loved someone special.  These hands wrote the letters home and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse and walked my daughter down the aisle.  These hands have held children, consoled neighbors and shook in fist of anger when I didn’t understand.  They’ve covered my face, combed my hair, and washed the rest of my body.  They’ve been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw.  To this day when not much of anything works well, these hands hold me up, lay me down and continue to fold in prayer.  MOST IMPORTANTLY it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home.  And with my hands, He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

6.      What powerful words this grandfather spoke to his grandson.  Yet, the story that this elderly man spoke speaks so eloquently of the life that Harland Hansen lived.  He too loved to work with his hands—woodworking, farming, hunting, and fishing, and praising Jesus his Lord and Savior.

7.      Someone else loved to work with his hands. He was born the son of a carpenter.  But, this carpenter, Joseph, wasn’t His real father.  Jesus left the glories of heaven to live among us and the sin that he so greatly detested.  He did it out of love for you and for me.  His hands probably built many different pieces of furniture and houses for people in the town of Nazareth where he lived.  Jesus’ hands showed love to his mother Mary and his father Joseph.  When he entered His public ministry Jesus’ hands were raised up to heaven to praise His heavenly Father for the baptism He received from John.  Jesus’ hands did so much.  They healed the sick, raised the dead and stilled a storm.  They caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear and healed people of their leprosy.  And his hands also were stretched out one day.  They were pierced for our sins and were lifted up one last time so that He could breathe his last breath.  And with those same hands He rolled away the stone on Easter Sunday proclaiming His victory over sin, death and the power of the devil for us and for Harland.

8.      Jesus’ hands showed the labor of love that He had for you and for me in the same way that Harland showed his love for his family and friends by the work that he did.  Let us never forget the love that our Savior has for us.  Romans 6:23 tells us that, “23 the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  This is a love that God our Creator gives to us, even though we were rebellious against Him, that sent His own Son to win for us eternal life and for our dear brother Harland.  Revelation 21 tells us that because of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins the hands of Jesus will wipe away every tear from our eyes.  “¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

9.      It’s because of Jesus our Good Shepherd that nothing will be able to snatch us out of God our Heavenly Father’s hands as Jesus tells us in John 10.  Jesus says in John 10, “¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”  Jesus showed His hands to His disciples after He had risen from the dead to prove of the sacrifice on the cross He had made for the forgiveness of their sins, our sins, and the sins of Harland.  And, when Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples wasn’t with them Jesus showed his hands again to Thomas to prove that He had truly risen from the dead.  John 20 tells us, “²⁴Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”  ²⁶Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

10.  Even though Harland didn’t see Jesus in His earthly life, he still believed in Him as His Creating & Redeemer Savior, for Paul reminds us in Romans 10:17 that, “faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.”  Let us thank God for the life that Harland lived in praise to God His Heavenly Father and to His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  May Harland go with God and rest in peace.  AMEN.

“Accept Jesus’ Offer of Rest” Mark 6.30-44, Pentecost 8B, July ’15

1.            Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  In the Gospel reading for today from Mark 6:30-44 we see that when a great number of Jesus’ followers have far too little food for all to eat, Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fishes so that all are satisfied. When problems threaten us and needs overwhelm our resources, what’s of often our reaction? Do we turn first to the Lord? We should, as His Word makes clear, for He still treats His flock with compassion and more than provides for every need of body and soul.  Today Jesus calls us to receive rest from Him.  Jesus recognizes our need for physical rest (vv. 30–32) and He brings rest for troubled souls (vv. 33, 34)

2.            Mark 6:31 says, “For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat” (v. 31). Isn’t this an accurate description of the lives of many people today? Too busy to pause for a real lunch, young professionals munch on vending-machine fare while working at their desks. Teens grab a bagel or granola bar for breakfast on the way out the door to school. Parents and children drive through fast-food restaurants between after-school lessons and sports practices. Commuters sip double lattes, caramel macchiatos, double shots of espresso, or whatever energy drink you can think of on their early morning drive, gnaw on baby carrots between meetings, and pick up takeout on the way home. Toddlers graze on cereal pieces and other portable finger foods so that meal schedules need not control the timing of family shopping trips. We’re a people more busy than every to the activities and responsibilities that reshape even basic functions of life such as eating. Our busyness prevents us from gathering for family meals, and we may even forget that we enjoy stopping to eat together, especially when we find pleasure and fulfillment in many of the other activities that make up our day.

3.            But what happens if Christians become too busy to come away and break bread together, to gather together for worship to receive God’s Holy Word and Sacrament? This text suggests that gathering as a Church to rest from our labors and partake of a common meal is an important part of life together as the body of Christ. Jesus offers a cautionary word to his disciples and the Christian church. We need times when we return from our individual activities—even those activities done in the name and for the sake of Jesus. Otherwise, we may be broken and poured out so often that we struggle to be useful as Christ’s hands and feet in the world. We may become so caught up in the busyness of ministry that we forget to spend time with the One who would direct our preaching, teaching, and our life together as God’s people.

4.            Mark 6:30-34 says, “30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

5.            I find the Gospel lesson for today kind of ironic.  This text is assigned for use during the month of July that falls at the height of the vacation season here in America.  I remember going on vacation with my parents and my mom having her AAA trip book where she had highlighted an itinerary of our trip.  She would read off descriptions of the places we were going and have an itinerary of what we were going to do each day.  That’s my mom’s type A personality.  Sometimes my brothers and I would say, “Sheesh mom, with all the stuff you want us to do, we’re going to need a vacation from our vacation.”  That’s why summer Sundays are a great time to think of all the ways we have for getting rest and recreation. Today our Lord Jesus reminds us to use that well-understood idea of rest properly; let us be sure our enthusiasm is directed to the Lord’s gifts of Word and Sacrament, not just to our own ease.

6.            Here in Mark 6 Jesus offered physical rest to his tired disciples. As they were tired from their journeys, spent from their preaching, and drained by the sad news about John’s death by King Herod, he offered them the rest and recuperation they needed.  Applying this to ourselves, we realize with joy that life is not all work. A day of rest was the Creator’s example and gift.  The book of Genesis reminds us that even God rested on the 7^th day.  And the author of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is our Sabbath rest (Heb. 3 & 4), for on Easter Sunday He gives us rest even from death by rising from the dead, conquering death for us. Though sin has spoiled much, it hasn’t cancelled that truth.

7.            At the same time we need to counter the thinking of the old Adam; life now is not meant to be all rest either! The Savior’s will had sent the apostles out to tire themselves. His teaching while they rested had prepared them to go forth again, to become tired again and again as they would go to all nations. In fact, that day ended with them hard at work carrying baskets of food to the hungry.

8.            As I said before God never wanted an end to that first Sabbath Day filled with blessed rest and interaction with his newly created people after He created the world in 6 days. Sin changed that. It's 24/7 now, not 24/6, filled with work, sports, commerce, and never stopping. Such demands on people and time leave no room for sabbath: rest, worship, or Word. For many, the automatic doors are more inviting than are church doors. The new normal leaves little room for the old invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). In the rush for life, preaching and the Word of eternal life is forgotten. The Third Commandment is the only one that begins with "Remember."  “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.”  Luther says, “We should fear and love God so that we don’t despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.”  We need Jesus!

9.            The early Christians chose to sabbath-rest on Sundays in order to honor God the Father, who began creation on a Sunday; to honor God the Son, who rose from the dead on a Sunday; and to honor God the Spirit, who gave birth to the New Testament church on Pentecost Sunday. Sabbath doesn't have to be on a Sunday, Christian freedom allows flexibility. But it doesn't allow the liberty to despise preaching and the Word. Paul wrote, "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature" (Galatians 5:13).

10.          A pastor visited a man whose habits indicated he'd forgotten the Third Commandment. The man gave a list of reasons why he and his family hadn't been part of worship, Word, and the Lord's Supper. He listed wonderful and good things: family, hobby, job-related circumstances. The pastor listened then asked, "Would you like me to pray that the Lord would remove all those reasons that are keeping you away?" The man acted shocked and offended. But not as shocked or offended as God, who commands us to gladly hear and learn his Word.

11.          Our Lord Jesus attended church regularly (Luke 2:49). He also walked Judean hills and went to the lake with fishermen. For us who can't seem to fit in both, Jesus also walked to the cross to endure eternal unrest, both in soul and body, for the forgiveness of our sins of Sabbath neglect, so that our souls won't!

12.          Here in Mark 6 the 12 disciples needed to hear of a better rest. Their earthly rest was fragile and vulnerable. Sheer numbers had foiled rest in Capernaum. How much uneasiness filled their work reports as they told Jesus not only of welcomes for their words but also of rejection? After all, Jesus had prepared them (v. 11) for people who would refuse to listen. All their life there would come days when messages would come about the death of friends. All their life they would be dealing with demanding, discourteous actions by some of earth’s citizens.

13.          The crowd that followed was also in need of rest that went beyond the usual food and shelter. Did they really understand why Jesus was important to them? If they were thinking of making him king so they could straighten out affairs in Jerusalem, what other incorrect ideas were they holding?  To the needy Jesus gave rest far beyond physical rest. He had compassion. The simple answer of God to human weakness and inadequacy is his love. He will be our helper.

14.          In the final analysis all earthly vacations then fall short of perfection. It doesn’t really matter if the mosquitoes are too plentiful and the fish too scarce. Such rest can only last till the next work schedule begins. As Christians we can rejoice in Jesus’ gift of perfect rest! Viewing the wonders of God’s creation shows us the splendor and power he has available to show his love for us. Enjoying the technology of our day bids us to humble ourselves as we receive benefits we cannot understand, much less deserve. We find our rest in God’s compassion, in the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins, and the sure hope of eternal life.

15.          Jesus is the source of our physical provision & spiritual needs.  He’s our Sabbath rest.  The most profound satisfaction we have comes from the vicarious satisfaction accomplished by the Good Shepherd laying down his life for his sheep.  We can see, both God’s physical rest and spiritual rest he gives to us are the result of Jesus’ death on the cross.  His spiritual rest he gives is because Jesus’ death has earned forgiveness of our sins and eternal life.  But our physical blessings we also receive because of—and only because of—the cross. Because mankind’s sin had separated us from God, we could have received no good thing from him. But Jesus’ death has removed that sin, reconciling us to God, so that now he once again showers blessings upon all people, believers and unbelievers.  Yes, being satisfied with bread and fish—and every other earthly need—is because Jesus satisfied God’s justice on the cross.  Today receive Jesus’ offer of rest.  Amen.