Funeral Sermon for Brenda Bredehoeft

Jesus said to [Martha], "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

(John 11:25-27)

Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—especially to you, Dennis, Kelly, Karla, Julie, friends and family of Brenda

            In a battle with cancer, it’s very hard to let anything but that horrible disease define who you are. As you all know, there’s so much more to Brenda than cancer. Her world revolved around seven grand kids who called her “Nana”. Even though you guys are scattered across the country she still did so much for you. There were trips—especially to Destin, Florida and Disney along with many to Branson. 

            She loved sharing with you—whether it was meals at a restaurant, cookies from the oven, or produce from her large garden, she wanted you to share in it. She wanted you to share in it even if it meant sending you produce through the mail. This apparently works—occasionally.

             Brenda faced cancer with boldness and courage. Even when it reared its nasty head a second time, she was not dismayed. Even when the end was near, she didn’t give up hope. Her trust in Christ carried her through. She knew Jesus’ promise, “everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

            I know your mom told you not to cry. But that’s something you’re just not going to be able to do. If it isn’t today, tomorrow or next week, the tears will come. It’s okay. Just look at Jesus in our reading. He cried at the death of His friends, certainly it is okay for us to do the same.

            The tears you have shed and the tears that you will shed in the coming days come because you loved Brenda as your wife, mother, grandmother, or friend. God gave you those relationships, those times, and those memories. Although Brenda wasn’t perfect, you still had good times with her.

            That’s the nasty thing about sin. It not only separates us from God, but it also separates us from each other. That’s why we cry. This is where sin brings us—your sin, my sin, Brenda’s sin. It brings us to death.

            But today we have Jesus to not only tell us, but show us His victory over sin and death, your death, my death, and Brenda’s death. We pick up the story as Jesus is coming to his friends, a family in morning. Jesus first meets Martha. Martha attacks Him and says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”

            If only. We all play this game. If only Jesus would have been there He could have healed Lazarus and saved everyone a lot of trouble. If only Jesus would have done something—we know He did it for others—why not for the one we love?

            Should you find yourself playing the “if only” game with God, don’t think that you’ve lost faith. Jesus doesn’t reprimand her for what she says. Martha might be a little frustrated with Jesus, but she still knows that despite her frustration she can trust Jesus.

            She does trust Jesus and He speaks those words to her that have been such a great comfort to your family over the last few weeks, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

            So we answer with Martha, “Yes Lord, I believe! Yes I believe that the Father has sent you into the world to be the Christ—the one who would take away our sins. You, Lord Jesus, are the one, the only one, who can fix my problem with death.”

            Next Jesus meets Mary. Mary says the same thing her sister said—at least the first half. She can’t get out any more than the first sentence before she falls at Jesus feet in tears. What’s Jesus’ reaction? He’s deeply moved. He’s troubled because He sees the trouble that death is causing His friends. He cries. He cries along with her.

            Notice that we have different people grieving in different ways. That’s the way it works. Some days we might be like Martha who was ready to talk, both to argue and be comforted. Some days we might be more like Mary who can’t do anything but cry. Jesus is there for both of them. Jesus is here today for you.

Our Lord Jesus has been where we are today. God knows what it’s like to lose a friend. Jesus became like us in every way so that we can go to Him confidently and find grace in our times of need.

But Jesus was not only at funerals as a mourner. He was also where Brenda is today. We can take comfort that Jesus both died and was buried. If we are following Jesus, we must go everywhere He has gone. We follow Him even through death and the grave. We know we can follow Him there because He is the resurrection and the life. So even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because He is with us. Sure, Jesus died and was buried, but it didn’t last! Because it didn’t last for Him, it won’t last for you, for me, or for Brenda either.

            Death certainly didn’t last for Lazarus! Jesus comes to his grave and asks for them to do the unthinkable—take away the stone! Jesus is willing to take on death, no matter how bad it smells. He calls Lazarus, “Lazarus, come out.” John records what happens next in a very matter of fact sort of way, “The man who had died came out.”

            In the chapter before this Jesus said, “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:2-3) and “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.” (John 10:27-28)

            Jesus calls Lazarus by name and He comes out. He comes out because not even death can keep us from recognizing the voice of our Good Shepherd. Jesus called Brenda by name in the waters of Holy Baptism. He called her out of her battle with cancer last Sunday so that now she is at peace with Him. He will call her name once again when He calls us all from the sleep of death to live with Him in the new heavens and the new earth that we heard about in the reading from Revelation 21.

Jesus wins. Cancer lies broken beneath His feet with death, the devil and hell. Those things may separate us from each other now, but they cannot separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Through Him we are winning an overwhelming victory. 

For us, who believe in Jesus, death is just a temporary interruption of our time together. God gave you wonderful years with you Brenda here on earth. She is now with Him and we will all be back together in His presence, never to be separated ever again.

Kelly, Karla, and Julie the last two weeks you were able to spend with your mom were certainly precious times for her. No doubt you will treasure the memories you made during those final days for the rest of your lives. You laughed together. You cried together. She and your Dad were able to share with you the reason your mom was able to die with such peace and such confidence. She knew Jesus, the resurrection and the life. She trusted Him and His promise that “everyone who believes in me will live even though he die, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

            You saw her fall asleep in Christ with the sure and certain hope of eternal life. Our prayer is that God would continue to comfort you with this Good News. May He do so until that day when we all see each other when He calls us again. Amen.