"We are gathered once again as the Community of Faith. We are gathered to worship God; to thank Him for his love and grace; to praise him as the Lord of life; and for his victory over death and the grave. And we are gathered to share our remembrances and honor the life of one of God’s cherished children, and to express support and love to the family in their loss."
That is the way I began the funeral service for Bill Johnson’s father, J.R. Johnson, Jr., Central’s "Congregational Treasure," six years ago. And it is an appropriate way to begin the message today.
John, Linda, and all of the family, I know that you feel the bitter pain of separation that death brings. I know that it hurts. It hurts to say goodbye to your only brother, whom you loved so long and so well. The apostle Paul called death that great enemy -- and indeed death overwhelms us with sorrow and grief. It is part of the reality of life -- we cannot escape death.
But it is precisely in such a time as this that we come face to face with God. We especially feel God’s presence. We especially give God thanks for his grace and love.
Bill was a child of God. In his case, I think the word "child" is particularly appropriate. Bill was so intelligent; I think there was a quality of genius within him. He was a genius in the body of a child. I am told that he was a mischievous child when he was growing up in the Sunday School of this church. When Jean Coltharp taught him in Sunday School, she describes Bill as a "live wire" who had to be put out in the hall to keep him from disrupting the class. He was "unique," Jean says. Bill played on the church basketball and baseball teams and he was active in Central’s Boy Scout troop and in the Sunday evening Christian Youth Fellowship. Becky Neel, who was very close to Bill, says that when they played the game "Trivial Pursuit," Bill was the first one chosen because he had a vast reservoir of knowledge. Bill played the piano well and was an excellent artist. His paintings hung on the walls of my home, and on the walls of many of our members. For years he was one of my golfing partners and was usually the winner of the match. As a matter of fact, he often had a childish tantrum if anyone else out-drove him.
The church was his primary focus through all of his life. With the help of J.R., Bill was serving as Church Treasurer when I was called to Central. He was elected as Elder by the congregation. When he presided at the Lord’s Table, Bill was always well prepared and his prayers were beautiful. Many of you could give testimony of Bill’s service and love for his church.
Like a child, Bill was very dependent on his mother and father. After the death of Edwinta, J.R. became Bill’s constant companion and care giver. He stayed in good health because J.R. directed his medicine and health routine. After J.R.’s death, his brother, John, became Bill’s care giver, which he did lovingly. But almost immediately Bill began to decline. He became reclusive. His health deteriorated. He had his foot amputated because he did not continue his medication. And this week Bill died peacefully in his sleep.
I have told this story because we should celebrate Bill’s life today. It is particularly appropriate that between this Thanksgiving day and the beginning of the Advent season we pause to give thanks to God for the life of this childlike extraordinarily intellectual man that we knew and loved so well. Thank you, God, for letting us have had this time with Bill Johnson.
The Apostle Paul called death that great enemy -- and indeed death overwhelms us with sorrow and grief. It is part of the reality of life -- we cannot escape death. But it is precisely in such a time as this that we come face to face with God. I want you to be sensitive to that truth. We especially feel God’s presence in the face of death. We especially give thanks to Him for His grace and love.
We near the beginning of Advent. Frequently people have said, "What a dreadful time of the year to have to experience a death in the family and go through a funeral when Christmas music is being played in every department store... For years the family will have a dark pall over Christmas."
But, dear friends, I think this is true only if we don’t comprehend the real meaning of Christmas. If Christmas is only tinsel and gaily-wrapped gifts -- if Christmas is only Santa Claus and Christmas trees -- if Christmas is only Rudolph and Ho-Ho-Ho -- well then death comes as a frightful intruder. But if Christmas means that our creator God has entered into human history -- if Christmas means that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself" -- if Christmas means that the good news the angels sang about was the coming of hope and joy and peace -- well, then we can truly turn the occasion of Bill’s funeral to a celebration of the salvation of God.
Christmas is about "Immanuel" -- God with us! Do you really understand Immanuel? God broke into human history. He is with us! He is with us here this afternoon! Isn’t that the joyous message we want to celebrate for Bill Johnson? Isn’t that why the angels sang; -- and why we will soon be singing joyous carols? Isn’t that why we are beginning to put up brightly-glittering lights? -- and why we give gaily-wrapped presents?
That sweet little child in the manger is the full revelation of God who comes to us in power to save. "Unto us is born in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord? A Savior is one who saves. This baby in the manger is God enfleshed. God has made himself present and known in this one who was born of Mary. Here in Bethlehem’s manger is God taking the initiative to redeem the world through the life of this baby. The message is God’s gift to you, to all of Bill’s family and friends. As John put it in his gospel: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
In a few days Advent will come with its message that God is not in some distant, sacred realm untouched by the stresses and suffering of this world. He is vitally present in the thick of our everyday lives. In a few days Advent will come with its message that we are not alone in this world; that in that Bethlehem manger comes a light that will brighten our lives and show us the direction to walk. In a few days Advent will come with its carols that speak of salvation and hope. This should bring us comfort as we say our final farewells to Bill Johnson.
Soon we will be singing carols that speak of salvation and hope. Many people never stop to reflect that Christmas has as much to say about death and dying as does Easter. If we listen to the carols, they will prepare us for death. They will help us recognize that death is not the end of life, but another event in life.
Unfortunately, I can’t sing them, but listen to the words:
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings,
mild he lays his glory by,
-born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth,
Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
. . .
Good Christian friends, rejoice
with heart and soul and voice!
Now you need not fear the grave;
Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all,
to gain the ever-lasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
. . .
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay
close by me forever and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
and fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
John, Linda -- all of the family -- and all of our church family: -- Bill Johnson was a sweet and loving little child of God. He has always, even in his worst hours, been in the tender care of the Lord Jesus. And Bill is fitted for heaven to live with Him there.
