Sermon: "A Christian Perspective on Death"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

The Gospel for today is often read as part of the Burial Office. It is a reading filled with comfort and hope for those faced with the death of a loved one. In addition, this reading provides assurance for someone personally facing death.

The occasion on which Jesus spoke in the first place was the night prior to his own death. Because of the content of the reading and because of the occasion for Jesus' words, there is no doubt that the passage provides us with a core understanding of the Christian perspective on death, as indicated by our Lord. Since death is part of the life of us all, the Gospel words today are very important indeed.

Before considering the passage itself, however, there is something else I want to mention initially. Jesus did not specifically refer to the pain that the separation of death brings … even though it certainly is implied. But, the point I want to make is that Jesus never denies that pain - nor does he downplay the intense feeling of separation that death brings. We as Christian people do not deny such pain either. It is quite real in our experience. Our hope as Christians involves the cross of Christ and our Lord's victory over death, but we know that death's separation brings pain and suffering. We do not deny that experience which is so very real.

On the other hand, in terms of the victory that the cross represents, several characteristics emerge from the reading today. And the characteristics are these: comfort, hope, and assurance. For people being baptized or confirmed today - and for all of us who will soon renew our baptismal covenant - we hold fast to the comfort, hope, and assurance that we know in Jesus Christ.

To begin with, Jesus said, "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?"(Jn 14:2). The point here is that upon his death, Jesus promised that he would go to prepare a place for his followers. They would have a place to belong - a home - after death.

Now, this is very important. Indeed, the idea of the loss of our familiar place is part of the fear we have of death. After all, a good deal of our identity and our self-awareness is tied to a place … or, to places. As we reflect on our lives, the places of our experience surely are significant in those reflections - where we have lived, where we went to school, where we spent vacations, and so forth. Thus, we associate certain moments of importance in our lives with the places where the events happened. Indeed, in a very real sense, the places where we have spent our lives have much to do with the stories of those lives themselves. Therefore, Jesus' words about having a place after death are words of profound and important comfort.

Then, secondly in our reading, Jesus offers a word of hope. And that hope involves finding the way to the place that he has prepared. Jesus said simply, "I am the way"(Jn 14:6).

Now, in our own lives, most all of us have had trouble finding our way at times. For instance, I am always uncomfortable if members of my family are part of a conversation about getting lost on trips. At some point in those conversations, the dreaded words will be spoken, "And then we took one of Dad's shortcuts!"

How about finding our way to this place we call "heaven" … this place where Jesus says he has prepared a place for us? Jesus speaks a word of hope at this point. He not only provides a roadmap for us to follow. He not only points us in the right direction, serving as our guide. He also is that road … the road that leads to our destination. We know about that way, for we have been baptized into it. We rehearse our journey in our weekly gathering and in our daily prayers. We pray regularly that Jesus "may dwell in us and we in him." And thus, we do know the way to that place prepared for us. Jesus Christ is the way. His words of hope and promise to us proclaim, "I am the way."

Thirdly and finally, we have the word of assurance that Jesus offers his followers. Of course, all these words have been ones of assurance … and of comfort and hope, too, for that matter. But this word is one that directs our attention back to our lives now, to this world … and Jesus does so in an assuring way. He turns the disciples from considering heavenly life - and the way to get there - back to looking at life on this earth. Jesus says, "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do"(Jn 14:12).

Now, part of the point of those words surely was to give his disciples a certain boldness about their mission in the world. However, behind the words lies an assurance the disciples could count on. Jesus was assuring them that he would take care of their place in heaven. Further, he would take care of being the way to get them to heaven.

"He who believes in me will also do the works that I do." Jesus intends to focus attention on where the task of the disciples lies. That is, they were not to worry about their places in heaven or about getting to heaven. Rather, Jesus himself would tend to those things. Thus, the disciples were to spend their time and energy on continuing the work of Jesus on earth. And, therefore, Jesus said, "the Father may be glorified in the Son"(Jn 14:13. The glorification of Christ, begun in Jesus' earthly life, continues as the disciples accomplish Jesus' work … twenty centuries ago and even now.

Thus, whenever we confront death in this life - and we will - may we not forget these three points of comfort, hope, and assurance. Jesus comforts us with the word that he goes to prepare a place for us. He offers us the hope that he himself is the way to that place. And Jesus assures us with the word that as we take care of earthly things, he will deal with things heavenly.

Thanks be to God!

Copyright © 2008 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee