“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” What a friend indeed. A friend that reached out to Rosa when she was just a little girl, and called her by name in her Baptism. A friend that got to know her as she got to know Him as she grew up physically and spiritually, to the time when she expressed her faith at her Confirmation. A friend that through the years continued to offer her His unconditional love, His presence and His power. A friend who made life interesting, and brought blessings to Rosa. Some of those blessings are times spent with loved ones – like those pictured in the displays on the easels.
“What a friend we have in Jesus.” Rosa's divine friend placed her into a Christian home with a two sisters and a brother. He blessed her with three children, and grandchildren and even one great-grandchild. He surrounded her with lots of Christian friends. He placed her into a Christian church family. He has kept her as His own all these years … and even now holds her close for all eternity.
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere. We should never be discouraged – Take it to the Lord in prayer.”
What a privilege, indeed, to be able to converse with the One who is Maker and Owner and Sustainer of this whole universe – Who rules and governs all things for the sake of His church – His people. The Heavenly Father always receives the praises of His children. He knows us so well, says Jesus, every moment of every day, that He even knows the very number of hairs on our head. He also knows about the things we are anxious over, and upset by, and worried about. Because He has promised to care for us, and He is love, and all-wise, He has urged us not to be afraid, not to worry, but to know and depend on His loving care and His ability to provide for all our needs.
He watched over Rosa during her hard times, and never left her side when the going got really tough. There were some hard times, some really hard times … but Jesus never left her, never forsook her. He was faithful in His commitment to her. He promised: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” He kept that promise. He always keeps His promises.
When one lives 80 years you experience quite a bit. There are good times … times in which we thank God for the provisions He's given, and the relationships we have. Times in which we enjoy one another. Times in which we appreciate the uniqueness of each person. Perhaps times in which we wonder what makes our friend or loved one think the way they think, or do what they do. We recall the fact that God made each one special. And that He loves each one so very much.
And there are those times when we experience the fact that we live in a fallen world – a world that is broken, and unfair, and so full of trials and troubles. We all know what that is like – we all suffer from its effects. What a blessing, tho, to have a Friend, our Lord Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us to know the truth, to guide us in the way we should go, and to being comfort, peace and healing. Too often we are prone to look only at the problem, and our inability to make things right, or change our circumstance, or make it all go away. He encourages us to look to Him. To come to Him in prayer. To listen to Him in His Word. Again, what a Friend we have in Jesus.
“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged – Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness – Take it to the Lord in prayer.” I know that Rosa and I prayed quite often about the troubles she experienced the last 20 years or so. And we saw God help her through. He was faithful to her. His grace was sufficient for her.
And He is faithful to us. The death of a friend or loved one brings grief. The grief we feel is real. There is a sense of loss – they are with us here no longer. And while we may have a sense of relief because they are suffering no longer, or they have been spared from whatever else the disease or condition might have produced, there is still a vacuum within, a void. They have been a part of our lives. Now a part of us is missing. And it hurts.
And there is also a realization that life here is temporary. It will one day come to an end – also for us. And, again, what a friend we have in Jesus. “Can we find a friend so faithful, who will all our sorrows share? Jesus also grieved outside the tomb of his dear friend Lazarus … Luke writes, “He wept.” And then He called Lazarus from the tomb. And Lazarus walked out … alive! One day He will call us all from the grave. When He comes again in glory there will be a resurrection … and those who, like Rosa, knew, loved and trusted in Jesus, will live with the Lord forever. In the meantime, she is with the Lord. Who is taking very good care of her. That helps us in our grief.
“Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge – Take it to the Lord in prayer.” Precious Savior, still our refuge. Yes, circumstances like this do bring us to confront our own mortality. Our time in this world is limited. One day we, too, will pass through the gates of death. And, praise the Lord, we have the comfort and sure hope that our Precious Savior brings. He is a “Savior.” When the angel Gabriel brought to Mary and Joseph the good news that Mary would bear the son of God, he said, “Call Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
God's Word says that sin is what separates us from God. It is because of sin that death is in the world. Jesus came to redeem us from our sin. Already in the Garden of Eden God promised to send one who would save His people. The details of that Savior were refined as the prophets brought word after word about who He was, and what He would do. Perhaps the prophet Isaiah gives us the clearest word: “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows … He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Iniquity is another word for sin. God the Father has laid all our sin on Jesus, who paid the penalty for them. He took our place – yours, mine, and Rosa's – there on that cross at Calvary. St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians (2CO 5:21): “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” He also wrote: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.” Paul wrote to the Romans (6:4ff): “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly be united with him in his resurrection. … Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.” And (8:1), “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” And, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.” Again and again God proclaims to us in His Word … Jesus is our precious Savior! He bore our sins – yours, mine, Rosa's – He paid for them all in His suffering and death at Calvary. What a friend we have in Jesus! – He rose from the dead as the guarantee that all of this is true! One who endured the pain and shame of the cross so that her sins would be paid for and she would be forgiven. One who offered the assurance of that forgiveness each time she received the Lord's Supper, where, with the bread and wine would also come the very body and blood of Jesus.
So … here is our comfort. We have a precious Savior. Rosa has a precious Savior. “In His arms He'll take and shield thee: Thou wilt find a solace there.” Last Tuesday the Lord Jesus called Rosa home. It's as though He took her by the hand and led her through the gates of death and into the home He has prepared for her. And even as Rosa would hold her doll in her arms and hold it close so our Lord holds Rosa close, in His arms … arms that are mighty and merciful, strong and tender. “In His arms He'll take and shield thee: Thou wilt find a solace there.” Solace is relief, comfort, real help for the trials and troubles we face. It's the calm that replaces the anxiety; the peace that surpasses understanding; the security of knowing that everything is finally and ultimately and eternally ok.
We continue on in this life in the confidence that she is in the care of our Precious Savior – who is also encouraging us to stay close to Him. What a Friend we have in Jesus! Amen.
