Death Stings

Larry C. Brincefield

larkayb@earthlink.net

February 28, 2003

Title: Funeral Sermon for Marge Cross

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Introduction

Marge Cross lived in such a way that she impacted many people.

She was involved in many things in the community and in the church

Bible Studies

the Ombudsman Program

Choir

Prayer and Share

and much more

In her obituary, it mentioned that she was an ADVOCATE for seniors.

Marge would fight tooth and nail to help those who didn’t have someone to fight on their behalf...

In fact, we can’t say they didn’t have someone...

because they had Marge...

and that was enough...

As I began to think about Marge being an Advocate...

I began to think about another Advocate...

1 John 2:1 says, "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous"

As a Christian, Marge realized that Jesus Christ was her example...

Just like He is the example for all of us who would endeavor to live for Jesus Christ.

And Jesus Christ, is here today...

serving as our Advocate...

ministering to those who are hurting...

touching those whose pain is so very great...

helping those who need supernatural strength just to make it through.

When life seems so very difficult, many times we turn to God’s Word for comfort and direction...

let’s turn there and see what God has for us today.

Read Text: 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Body

1. Our Scripture says, "Where O Death is your sting?"

Many times this passage of Scripture is used on Easter Sunday...a great day of celebration...

and sometimes Christian funerals take on the atmosphere of celebration...

We praise the Lord because we know that death is not the end...Christians know there is something more...

And we do have something to celebrate, because we know that Marge is with the Lord...

but we also temper our celebration with the understanding that death is painful

If we are truly honest with ourselves this morning...

we must confess...

yes, death does sting...

it hurts...

We cannot just flippantly say, "Where O Death is your sting?"

as if it means absolutely nothing to die.

Does it mean nothing to leave this earth?

Does it mean nothing to leave those you love?

Does it mean nothing?

Has death no sting when a husband is hurting?

Has death no sting when the family is weeping?

Has death no sting when Marge’s friends are mourning?

Has death no sting when we prayed and prayed that Marge would be healed?

and yet she wasn’t?

Of course it stings...

Jesus Himself felt the sting of death...

Jesus had a very dear friend, Lazarus.

and Lazarus became very sick...

The family sent for Jesus...

They knew how Jesus had healed the blind...

and those with leprosy...

surely Jesus would come and heal His dear friend!

But He didn’t!

He didn’t get there until Lazarus had been buried 4 days ago.

When He got there, everyone was still crying and grieving the loss.

Jesus asked to see where Lazarus was buried...

And when they took Him to see the tomb, what do you think Jesus did?

shout "Praise be to My Father in heaven"?

Did He say, "Hallelujah, Lazarus is in heaven now"?

No, John 11:35 says, "Jesus wept"

Ask Jesus, as He stands there...

His body wracked by great sobs because of the loss of His friend...

Ask Him if death has no sting.

If Jesus were here this morning, I dare say that He would be weeping.

And you know something?

I believe He IS here!

There’s a song entitled, "Tears are a language God understands"

In one part of the song, it tells us that God "weeps along with man"

My prayer is that even today, God is moving up and down these aisles,

weeping along with you...

Don’t try to tell Marge’s family that death doesn’t sting...

don’t try to tell her friends that death isn’t painful...

it stings...

it hurts...

so does that mean that Scripture is misleading us?

2. Well, let’s go on, 1 Corinthians 15:57 says, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"

Here comes the victory part!!

Here comes the part that takes a little of the sting out of death...

Here comes the part that puts a little salve on the wound...

What if we were here this morning...and we had no hope?

what if this really were the end?

What if there was nothing more?

What if there were no heaven?

The sting would be unbearable!

But we can have victory and it comes from the Hand of God...

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory

But it didn’t come by God alone...He gave us the victory "through our Lord Jesus Christ"

When Jesus went to the cross,