Rev. Mark A. Loest, Pastor
Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church of Frankentrost
Saginaw, Michigan
Second Last Sunday of the Church Year (November 18, 2007)
Text—Matthew 9:18-19 & 23-26

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district. Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26 (ESV)

Pray: Lord, let at last Thine angels come, To Abram’s bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing; And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face, My Savior and my Fount of grace,
Lord Jesus Christ, My prayer attend, my prayer attend, And I will praise Thee without end. Amen.

Last week Saturday I came home and Anna asked where I’d been. I had a wedding. She said, “Oh, you just had a wedding. My Dad comes home and acts like it’s no big deal—’I had a wedding; I had a funeral.’ No big deal.” And I told her, “but Anna—that’s’ what I do!”

Perhaps those of us involved in Weddings and funerals and the like take them for granted. What was your reaction in seeing a casket with a funeral pall in church today? It certainly isn’t what you ordinarily expect to see…except at a funeral.

And we certainly didn’t expect to come to a funeral today! Neither did Jesus and his disciples. Or at least we have no indication that he was warned ahead of time except that as they were going along a man came up and said, “my daughter has just died.”

As a pastor I know what that phone call is like. Any time, day or night, I can be summoned to the home, the hospital, the nursing home and even to an accident scene because a member has died.

What has never happened is that at such times no one has ever said to me, “Pastor, come lay your hand on my loved one, and he/ she will live.”

That’s because I do not have the power over life and death. None of us do. It is not given to human beings. At least not to sinners like you and me. Immortality was lost by us when our first parents Adam and Eve when in the Garden they turned their backs on the life God had given to them and chose the kingdom of darkness over the kingdom of light. However, eternal life was regained by the Lord of Life when he was nailed to a tree, placed in a tomb and raised again for our justification.

Light came back to us just as the Apostle Paul writes,“which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” 2 Timothy 1:10 (ESV)

Jesus raising the rich man’s daughter was among his greatest miracles. We’re told it went through out the district. Word spread fast: “he even raises the dead!” In the Gospels we find an even greater progression of revelation of Jesus having authority over death. He raises the little girl who has just died.Then he raises a young man dead being buried.Then he speaks from a distance and Jairus’ daughter lives, without requiring Christ to be physically present at the bed side. Next, he brings out Lazarus who has been dead for days and stinks of decomposition. Finally, he gains his own life back after three days in the tomb.

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18 (ESV)

This morning we dedicate our funeral pall. Many people wonder what a funeral pall is, and if you haven’t been to a funeral you may not have seen one used.

The pall is a large piece of cloth that covers the entire casket and its carriage. It is most often made out of white material, symbolizing the truth that in Holy Baptism Christians are clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and that at their death, that righteousness is complete. Also, the imagery in Rev. 7:13-14 of the saints covered in white robes is beautifully portrayed.Funeral palls usually contain some decoration. The simplest is a large cross that reaches to the ends of the entire cloth. The pall is usually placed on the casket before processing into the nave and then removed after returning to the narthex before proceeding to the hearse. No other objects, such as flowers or the American flag, are placed on the pall during the funeral service.

Our Lutheran Service Book, in the Funeral Service on page 278—has a wonderful form for placing the pall on the casket. Let’s read it together as it is there…responsively.

While we are on the topic, you will also notice that at a funeral the Paschal Candle that is lighted during Easter and at Baptisms also burns: another reminder of our salvation in Christ by our baptism.

And in our Epistle Lesson today we have still another remembrance. Note Paul’s words at the end of that selection form Colossians.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1 (ESV)

No doubt Luther had these words in mind when he write in his Catechisms concerning the Lord’s Supper:

“We must never regard the sacrament as a harmful thing from which we should flee, but as a pure, wholesome, soothing medicine which aids and quickens us in both soul and body. For where the soul is healed, the body has benefited also” (Large Catechism V 68).

And, [Concerning] The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar: How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here:”Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”

God has given us marvelous means of receiving his grace. Word and sacrament are given to us freely and generously by God. In the Divine Service the tangible gifts are offered that hold the precious sin forgiving, life-giving mysteries that save God’s people. Through the font and the altar rail God touches his people, just as Jesus touched that little girl. Our deaths become only sleep as the people of God who will rest a Sabbath’s rest in death.

By the way, did I mention that the casket is empty—which I supposed you all assumed? And perhaps the strongest part of this illustration is that someday, too—your casket will be found empty as well. At the resurrection of all flesh.

We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. Corinthians 15:51 - 16:1 (ESV)

Amen.

Let us pray: Almighty God, by the death of Your Son Jesus Christ You destroyed death, by His rest in the tomb You sanctified the graves of Your saints, and by His bodily resurrection You brought life and immortality to light so that all who die in Him abide in peace and hope. Receive our thanks for the victory over death and the grave which He won for us. Keep us in everlasting communion with all that wait for Him on earth and with all in heaven who are with Him, for He is the resurrection and the life, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.