Reflections from my Father's Funeral

The following scriptures and comments are what I read at my father's funeral on Saturday, May 8. I'm posting this message because it gives a concise insight into what the bible says about those who die, and it is from this that I derive the hope that I will see my father again. Also, the previous post entitled "This Mortal Life" speaks to this further, although the point of that article is directed toward a different purpose. Read the following words slowly, deliberately, and with power, because that's how I read it at his funeral and how I hear it when I read it for myself.

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One scripture that has really resonated with me in the past few days is Matthew 22:31-32, where Christ responds to the Pharisees when they test Him about the resurrection of the dead. He said to them

Matthew 22:31-32 

“Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!”

He is the God of the living, and Christ’s response verifies the reality that this mortal life is not all that God has planned for us. Paul also wrote about the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Christ gives us more words of encouragement in Revelation. In chapter 1, Jesus is speaking to John in a vision, and John sees Him in His glory. John says in verses 17 and 18

Revelation 1:17-18

When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive – forever and ever – and I hold the keys of death and the grave!”

It is Christ who has been given power over death and the grave, and, for this reason, He told John not to be afraid, and He gave His own resurrection as an example to assure him of this. And further in the book of Revelation, Christ reveals the Kingdom that He has gone before us to receive.

Revelation 21:1-6

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. And I saw the holy city – the new Jerusalem – descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Look! The dwelling of God is among men. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God Himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more – or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have passed away.

Indeed, many encouraging things have been prophesied about that time. Because of what my father went through, I found the following scripture to be especially meaningful:

Isaiah 35:1-6

Even the wilderness and the desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with flowers. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! … for the Lord will display his glory there, the excellency of our God. With this news bring cheer to all discouraged ones. Encourage those who are afraid. Tell them, “Be strong, fear not, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf. The lame man will leap up like a deer, and those who could not speak will shout and sing!  

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I felt many of these scriptures in a very personal and emotional way as I was writing it and practicing what I would say, and I cried at certain places during that process until I could read it without crying so that I would be able to keep my composure during the service. I did cry some while reading it at Deddy's funeral, but, interestingly, I did so at a verse that I did not expect. When I read Revelation 1:17, I started crying because I realized that just as Jesus put His right hand on John when he fell down, so also He has put His right hand on me. And just as He told John "Do not be afraid!" so also He has told me "Do not be afraid!" And the reason that he said "Look, I was dead, but now I am alive" is to verify that just as Christ was dead and now lives, so also all who have fallen asleep and are dead will again live.