What I said at my mother's funeral.

This is what I preached at my mother’s memorial service in 2005.

Meditation on John 3:16

for mom’s Memorial Service

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”                      -- John 3:16

Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Lord and blessed Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen

Thank you for coming.  Your presence today is a great blessing to Dad and to all of us in the family.  It is also a tribute to a woman who lived her life in light of these words of Jesus – words that have been called “The Gospel in a Nutshell.” 

When Nicodemus came to Jesus to find out more about this wise teacher and miracle worker, Jesus’ answer included some themes that are both simple and difficult.  They were, in fact, something of a bad news/good news story.

Jesus told Nicodemus that all is not well with us humans.  Far from being OK just as we are, there is something wrong.  I’d like to ask you to think about that for a moment.  In fact, look at the person on your right.  Now look at the person on your left.  Do you know them?  Is it, perhaps, someone you love?  That’s wonderful if it’s true.  What is also true is that there’s something wrong with them, something dreadfully wrong.  That was Jesus’ bad news to Nicodemus: “You cannot enter God’s kingdom unless you are born again.”

Nicodemus didn’t understand, of course, and as the conversation continued, Jesus explained very clearly what he meant.  And then he went on to impart the Good News: the Gospel news that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Thus we call John 3:16 the Gospel (Good News) in a nutshell.

Let’s crack open this nut to see just what’s inside.  “God so loved the world…”  Jesus begins with God and God’s love for the whole creation, including you and the persons sitting next to you.  Do you know them pretty well?  God knows them better.  God knows you better than you know yourself.  And contrary to all that’s reasonable, God still loves you.  He made you.  He knows you.  He loves you.  That’s the first thing you have to know today.  But it’s not the last.

God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.  God so loved the world that he gave.  Here Jesus speaks of a gift.  And actual gifts are undeserved.  “You shouldn’t have,” people say when we “surprise” them with a gift.  They’re right!  If I should have, it wouldn’t be a gift!  It would be an obligation.  God did not have to love us.  He did not have to give us Jesus his only Son.  But God did – give us Jesus.  And there’s one more aspect to this Gospel in a nutshell:  what is our response?

“… He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  There are so many possible responses to God’s loving gift, and today we hear them all – shrilly shouted from courtrooms, government halls, newspaper rooms and pulpits throughout this God-blessed land of ours.  “I have my rights!”  “Why did God let this happen to me?”  “I can live/act/believe any way I want to!”  “You can’t tell me what to do/ what to believe/ what to say.” 

And still God loves us – offering his most precious possession – his own, dear, one-of-a-kind, only-begotten Son.  “Think again,” he cries.  “Give Jesus another look!”  “Don’t cut yourself out of real joy both now and forever.  I love you.  Please accept my gift to you.  Accept my gift.  Please …”

Mom heard and believed and lived that Gospel all her life.  For one week less than 60 years, she partnered with dad to proclaim that Gospel with her life.  Dad’s gifts were preaching and teaching.  Hers was helping – helping him and countless others whose path crossed hers.  Helping family and friends, neighbors and strangers.  Living “the Gospel in a nutshell” in a life.

Please don’t get me wrong.  Mom wasn’t perfect.  She’d be the first to say so.  But she was forgiven.  She knew that God loved her; that God had given his Son for her; so that she would not perish, but have everlasting life.  God offers that same promise to you that Mom accepted for herself.  Believe in God’s love.  Accept Jesus as your Savior.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you – the kingdom Mom is enjoying now … and forever, Amen.