Resurrection Proclamation - A Funeral Homily

Resurrection Proclamation

A Homily of Hope – Using Scriptural Quotation and Contemporary Paraphrase

by Elder O. Kris Widmer, Preacher and Poet

For the Memorial Service of Dr. Myron K. Widmer, his cousin.

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

Christ is risen!  Hallelujah!

The Lord is risen!  Hallelujah!

We shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

“I am the faithful witness.

I am the first born of the dead.

I love you.

I have released you from your sins

         By my death .

I have gathered you as a holy people

         by my resurrection.

Revelation 1:5,6

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I am the A and the Z…and everything in between.

I am the Zero and the Infinity

I am the present, the past and the future.                           Revelation 1:8

I am the was, the is and the is to come.

I am the start and the finish.

I am the All in All…the everything.

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

 “Do not be afraid;

I am the first and the last.

I am the Living One;

I was dead; now behold I am alive forever.

I have the keys of all death and every grave.”     Revelation 1:17,18

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I sit with Mighty God on the throne                                  Revelation 5:13

I am the creator and the re-creator.                                 Revelation 4:11

I am the Lamb…that was sacrificed…but now stands. Revelation 5:6

         receiving power, riches, wisdom,

         strength, honor, glory and blessing.

I am the Faithful and True                                               Revelation 19:11

I hold the mysteries of the future in my hand.                   Revelation 5,6

I say to all the dead…

 “Rest for just a little while longer.

Everything is on schedule and under control.”         Revelation 6:11

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Why come looking for my corpse among the dead?

         It was only a borrowed tomb.

         I have returned it to it’s owner…slightly used, greatly blessed.

         I only needed it for the weekend.    (From Southern Gospel Song)

I am not there anymore…laying in stately state.

I am alive.                                                                                  Luke 24:5,6

I am with you.

I am with you always…even to the end of time.”              Matthew 28:20

()()()()()()()

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Remember this.

Please, Remember this.

I will be handed over to sinful people.

I will be die by crucifixion.

But on the third day, I will rise again.                                   Luke 24:7

In the same way,

You shall certainly die.                                                             Genesis 2:17

But on the last day I will raise you up. John 6 – 4x repeated phrase.    

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

The one who comes to me

I will absolutely never, never, never,

never, never, never, never –

cast out, cast aside, cast off!                                                     John 6:37

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

You are mine!

Heavenly God, the one who sent me,

has given you to me.

What is given me I will NOT loose!

No how!  No way!  And I don’t mean maybe.          John Ammon Phrase

I will raise you up on the last day!                                         John 6:39

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Every person who learns of me and believes in me

Already has eternal life.

I, Myself…

I personally will raise you up on the last day.                    John 6:40

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Come to me all who are exhausted and burdened                Matthew 11

Come to me.

Almighty God is wooing you.

I will raise you up on the last day.                                         John 6:44

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I am the New and True Manna, food for your inner hunger.

Remember the manna story?

Moses and company ate the daily bread

God rained it down from heaven.

Well, still; a whole generation died in the wilderness:

         A Sour Dough, indeed!

If all you eat is kneadable, bakeable, chewable, swallowable bread:

         Wonder Bread, White Bread, Wheat Bread

If all you eat is sliced or broken bread:

         Even if it is…

         Whole Wheat Bread -

                       with Rolled Oats, Quinoa and Nuts,

                       Non-GMO and Zero Trans Fats ! -

You will still die.

         It is still all just Sour Dough!

You have no life in yourselves.                                                    John 6:53.

Feast on me.

Eat me.

Drink me.

Now you may ask “What ARE you talking about?”                    John 6:52

Good Question.          Fair Question.

Again…like Moses and company

They ate unleavened bread and drank wine as they left Egypt

The Jews remember it with the Passover meal…

The Christians remember the Passover and the Last Supper

With their bread and juice communion.

    (Sometimes they wash feet also.)

These are all symbolic things pointing to me.

They are mere shadows.                                                   Galatians 2:17

I am the reality.

See, if all you do is munch communion wafers and sip grape juice,

You will certainly will still die physically

And could be lost eternally!

I am the reality.

I am the true food.

         Don’t just eat a lamb chop…eat ME! - The Lamb of Life

         Don’t just bite some bread…eat ME! The Bread of Life

I am the true drink.

         I drank “The Cup of Death”, so you could drink ME –

                       The  “Living Water”

I am your Passover.                                                          1 Corinthians 5:7

Eat me.     Drink me.

And eternal death will “pass over” you.

Eat me.    Drink me.

I will raise you up on the last day!                                         John 6:54

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

WE shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

This is what happened to me.

I was arrested and turned over to wicked people

         To show the world the true character of Satan

         and to destroy everything he has done.

I was crucified.

I was numbered with the transgressors…between two thieves.

I was buried through the kindness of others

But then on the third day…

My lungs started expanding.

        Inhale – Exhale

My nose started smelling.

        Mmmmm - Myrrh

My heart started beating.

        Lub-Dup

My hands moved

My feet flexed

My eyes opened.

My lips smiled.

My brain started thinking.

All that remained of the ordeal…was the instant scars.

        Hand…scars…where the nails impaled.

        Feet…scars…where the nails pierced

        Side…a scar…where the spear stabbed

        Head….scars…where the thorns punctured

        Back…scars…where the flog tore.

But as for you…

Ah, yes….YOU!

You will be raised immortal.

No trace of your infirmity will rise with you.

No scars will remain.

Like Ezekiel’s Vision

        Bones will come together.

        Muscle and tendons connect.

        Organs will appear

        Skin will cover

        Hair will grow

        It will all happen, as if in a time lapse.

New lungs will fill with air.

New heart will begin beating

New kidneys will start filtering.

New eyes will start seeing

New nose will start smelling

New teeth will start chomping (for all you denture wearers)

New hands will start doing

New brain will start thinking

You will be you again.

Then the scripture will be fulfilled For YOU.

“Even though my skin is gone

and my tissues have serious issues

…yet in my flesh will I see God.”

                                                                                                        Job 19:26 

When you whisper to me, with your dying breaths -

         just like that requesting thief -

“Remember me when you eventually are in Your kingdom.”

Today and everyday,

I give you the same response.

I tell you the truth today, (comma)

I tell you today… on July 13, 2019 -

“YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

WE shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

We know that the God that raised Me,

         will raise you

         and present you to Me.*

So don’t ever give up trusting in Him and Me.

Though the OUTER you might waste away and decay,

The INNER you can be stronger each and every day.

Whatever may lead to your death

is but a light and momentary annoyance

when compared to

the eternal and substantial glory that will be yours.

There is NO COMPARISON.

Don’t focus on the things you can see.

Look instead to the things you can’t see.

For the things you can see are temporary.

It is the things that can’t be seen that are…eternal.

                                                                   2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 14; 16-18

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

This is the Gospel.

         Proclaimed to you and received by you.

I died for all sins…according to the scriptures.

I was buried.

I rose on the third day…according to the scriptures.

This is Very Good News!

I appeared to Mary Magdalene first.

         Then to Peter and the other disciples…several times.

I appeared to Cleopas and his friend in Emmaus.

         Then to Thomas, just so he could touch me.

I appeared to more than 500 others at one time.

         Then to James

Finally,

I appeared to Paul…the last and least of all apostles.

                                                                                      1 Corinthians 15:1-9

Read what they wrote.

They’ll tell you.

I have been raised!

But some say “No.  That doesn’t happen.  It never has and never will!”

If that is true…than I’m not raised.

And…if I’m not raised….

         All preaching is foolishness done by false teachers. v. 14, 15

If I’m not raised…

         All faith is pointless.  v.14, 17

If I’m not raised….

         No sins are forgiven.17

If I’m not raised…

         then those who have died are dead FOREVER.   VS 18

If I’m not raised…

         those who think I am

         are to be pitied above all who have ever lived.  vs 19

What a miserable way to think.!

If I’m not raised…

         Live however you want.

         There will be no reckoning.

         It really is a dog-eat-dog world.

         Only the fittest will survive!

         You should say

         “Let’s Eat, Drink and Carouse –

         for tomorrow we may die.” VS 32

                                                                                  1 Corinthians 15:12-19

But I have been raised.

I am the first fruits of those who “sleep”

                                                                                       1 Corinthians 15:20

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Adam brought death.

I bring life!

Adam was earthy.

I am heavenly.                                                  1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 47

Now get this…

         I am Son of Man and Son of God.

         I am both earthy and heavenly.

This is so that YOU -

         Who are earthy in body now

         Can be heavenly in body later.                                                   vs 49

I proclaim to you a mystery.

You, my precious children, shall not all sleep.

No.  I will change you.

In a moment;

In the time it takes an eye to twinkle.                   1 Corinthians 15:51,52

I will come from heaven to earth…In the Clouds.

Every eye will see it!                                                           Revelation 1:10

I will shout.

My voice…the voice of the Archangel…will speak!

My voice will ring out, like a trumpet.

Awake.  Awake!

         The dust will give up its dead.

         The sea will give up its dead.

The dead who trusted in God will rise up.

         Changed.

         Death will hold them no longer.

The living ones remaining will be caught up.

         Changed

         Death will never touch them

Rise Up!  Caught Up!

Meeting in the Air.       Hugging in the Air.

There will be no more partings.

You and them and I will be together forever.

                                                                                1 Thessalonians 4:16,17

Finally, these prophecies will be fulfilled!

Life will swallow death - once and for all.   (Gulp!)

                                                                1 Corinthians 15:54 (Isaiah 25:8)

The dead shall live.

Their dead bodies shall rise.

Awake and start singing,

You who currently dwell in the dirt.

It is time to come forth - as dew rises from moist soil.

Come out, Come out - where ever you are!

                                                                                                    Isaiah 26:19

I will free them from the power of the grave.

I will liberate them from the strength of death.

O Death, Your reign of terror is over!

O Grave, Your cruelty is ended!

No more victory, No more sting for you!

                                                                                                    Hosea 13:14

Jesus is risen! Hallelujah!

We shall rise! Hallelujah!

By the mercy, grace and love of Jesus;

and the power of His resurrection -

our beloved dead shall rise!  Hallelujah!

A Death Like No Other - Biblical Thoughts on Suicide

A Death Like No Other

Biblical Perspective, Hope and Comfort in the Face of Suicide

For those who contemplate it, those who fail at it, those who succeed at it;

And the families and friends who mourn them;

And those who minister to them all.

Chaplain O. Kris Widmer

Introduction

Many ecclesiastical theologies regarding suicide conclude that there is no salvation available to one who dies by suicide. The common conclusion is that those who kill themselves are beyond the saving grace of God and will be among the lost in the final judgment. It is deemed necessary, when one also teaches an immediate continuation of existence in heaven at death. Why wouldn’t one kill themselves and go to glory.  Thus the fear of the final fire gives an strong incentive to live on here. However, such a theology offers little hope for mourners and those who comfort them.

 Suicide is certainly “a death like no other.”  No one questions the salvation of believers that die by other means: accident, illness, age, murder, disasters or predators.  However, what about a death that is self caused? This article is my attempt to say, “Wait.  Not so fast!  Maybe we should reconsider our theology.”

Suicide on the Rise

Suicide rates are increasing in all segments of the world’s population. It is said that the United States military experiences as many as twenty-two suicide deaths each day, in both active and retired personnel.  World wide, there are 850,000 successful suicides every year – that is 2,329 each day.

It is not a matter of “if,” but “when,” you will be called upon to minister in this context. Few things will stretch a minister’s soul and theology more than finding comforting words to say to a grieving family and community when one has died by suicide.

Words Matter

Read those last 3 words again – “died by suicide.” The usual phrase is, “committed suicide.”  This came from the era when suicide was a crime, much like committing larceny or adultery. “Committed” conveys shame and stigma even to this day. I now use the more neutral phrase – “died by suicide.”

The Bible Rogue’s Gallery

The idea that suicide is tantamount to an unpardonable sin comes through the ancient church theologians of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, along with Dante’s Inferno.  Suicide was considered self-murder, breaking the sixth commandment.  Since the victim couldn’t go to confession there is no salvation for them.

This view is supported Biblically by referencing King Saul (1Samuel 31:4), the Apostle Judas (Matthew 27:3-5), as well as the lesser known Ahithophel (2Samuel 17:23) and Israel’s King, Zimri (1Kings 16:15-20).

However, we should refrain from passing judgment on the eternal destinies of Bible characters, given our limited knowledge from the accounts.  Who are we to judge? All four of these souls could be said to be “lost” based on the trending habits of their lives, not the means of their deaths. 

King Saul had drifted away from God, as evidenced by his numerous disobediences of Samuel’s instructions. Even the prophet withdrew and never saw Saul’s face again. (1Samuel 15:35). Saul’s Endor séance would justify such condemnation, regardless of the way he died. Judas’ embezzlement, his marginal discipleship and his betrayal kiss determine his destiny, rather than his mode of death.

The Bible’s Redeemed Gallery

There are other Bible biographies to ponder besides Saul and Judas. Let’s consider those who we have good reason to believe will be raised in the resurrection of the righteous.

Samson

Consider a name from Hebrews 11:32 - Samson.  What!  The Israelite judge who was a triple womanizer and who used his divine strength as a toy! The “suicide pusher” of temple pillars, whose intentional act resulted in his own death, along with 3,000 enemies. (Judges 16:27). Why does he get to be listed among the faithful?   Well, “the hair of his head began to grow” (Judges 16:22), evidence that he and God had important conversations as he pushed that millstone. So, perhaps a person can die by suicide and also be right with God.

The Armor Bearer

In our haste to convict King Saul, we have often missed the quivering form of a frightened armor bearer. “And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.” 1 Samuel 31:5 NASB. 

I have taken to calling him - PFC Jacob Jacobson (That is Private First Class, for those of us without a military lexicon.)  He has been conscripted to drag Saul’s equipment around.  He has a uniform and a sword.

He, along with Saul, has seen the deaths of the king’s three sons. (vs.2)  We can surmise that their deaths were slow and torturous. It was King Saul’s fear that he might suffer a similar fate. (This fear is well founded, for the Philistines desecrated their bodies: cutting off their heads, and hanging them on Beth-shan’s wall. vs.8-10)

So an injured Saul asks his armor bearer to kill him. “…Pierce me through…lest these uncircumcised come…and make sport of me.” (vs 4) But PFC Jacobson refuses this order “being greatly afraid.”  I can picture him offering a shaky salute.  “W-w-with…due re-re-respect, Your M-m-majesty, I will n-n-not lift m-m-my hand against the L-L-Lord’s anointed.” He answers “No.” And so King Saul falls on his own sword, a suicide that has influenced theology for the past three thousand years.

Now PFC Jacobson looks around.  The King and his sons are dead.  The battle is lost. Rather than face a torturous death, this military hero also dies by suicide!  I am unwilling to teach that this soldier should be considered lost due to his desperate, final act. 

Jesus

And it could be said that Jesus also died by suicide.  I will keep my reasoning brief but clear. (1) The Jews thought Jesus might kill himself because of cryptic statements. (John 8:21,22) (2) Jesus said he had the power to lay his life down. (John 10:17,18) (3) The laying down of his life was a demonstration of the greatest love a person can have. (John 15:13,14) (4) Jesus insisted in going through with the cross, telling an armed disciple to put his sword away.  “I can call twelve legions of angels to come rescue me, if I so desire.” (Matthew 26:52-54). (5) Jesus died by his own choice and actions…so that we might have abundant life. (John 10:10). 

To the Suicidal I Say:

If you believe that suicide is not pardonable by God (based on Saul and Judas), and THIS is what prevents you from ending your life…KEEP BELIEVING THIS!  Keep living! You are loved! Stay with us, please.  We’ll assist you getting the help you need.

To the Grieving Survivors I say:

I am so sorry about the death of your loved one. Tell me about what they meant to you?  (Listening opportunity.)  Then, consider the Bible stories mentioned above: Samson, the Armor Bearer and Jesus.  Your loved one is safe with God.

Next, ponder Romans 8:35-39:  NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.  Nothing means NOTHING!  Trust your loved one to the God who understands and is merciful. In the resurrection, Jesus will put arms of love around them as He smiles and asks, “What were you thinking?”

Trending Now

I also find great comfort in this quotation from the inspired prophet in my church tradition:  Mrs. Ellen G. White.

“It is the trend of the life, the direction in which one is going that we must measure the fruit of a prophet’s life. (or anyone’s life)  All good people occasionally do bad things, and all bad people occasionally do good things.  Every life has a trend – a very sobering thought, once you come to think about it.  My life has a trend.  So does yours.  What is the nature of that trend?  It is this trend of the life that the test of “fruits” seeks to measure.”  HONL 17.2 

Suicide can be seen as a good person doing the occasional bad thing, one that is undoable.  We must trust them, as we trust all the rest of our beloved dead, to the grace, mercy and power of our loving God.

Author’s Biographical Blurb

Chaplain O. Kris Widmer is a Seventh-day Adventist minister and currently works as a Palliative Care chaplain in an undisclosed location.  His enjoyment of life is augmented through devotional journaling, family togetherness, artistic explorations, poetry writing and occasionally eating ice cream; among many other simple pleasures.