Gregg, Carlene, Jackie, and Kathy, family and friends of John, brothers and sisters in Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You have a close family. 

And I mean that very literally.

You all live within a few blocks of one another and your dad.  You chose to live in the same neighborhood, the same part of town that you grew up in, and to raise your families right there with one another.

You have a close family.

But it’s more than just being physically close, of course.  You have a deep and abiding love for one another.

It’s been incredible to watch the four of you and your spouses work together to care for your dad these past few months.  All the trips to all the different kinds of doctors.  All the hours both day and night in the hospital, over at Bickford, coordinating and caring for him and for one another, making sure that he wasn’t alone, it was truly amazing to watch. 

You are a close family.  Your dad was obviously very close to you.

But there is someone even closer to John than all of you.  Even closer that his dear wife, to whom he was married for over 60 years.

And that person is Jesus Christ.  Jesus was John’s Good Shepherd to lead and guide him throughout his life.

John was joined to Jesus when he was baptized so many years ago.  With the water, God put His name on John and washed away all his sins.  John was joined to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he was given new life.  That’s why John is robed in white today.  That’s why he’s here at the baptismal font with the paschal candle lit.  

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, led John beside the still waters of Holy Baptism.

And He led John in paths of righteousness as well.

As John learned about Jesus at Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School, and he confessed his faith there at his confirmation, Jesus, the Good Shepherd was leading and guiding him.

And then Jesus prepared a table for John, He fed him with his own body and blood.  Week after week, John received the Lord’s Supper, and again Jesus drew near and was close to him.

John’s cup of blessings truly overflowed.  God gave him many happy years with a growing family, running a successful business, having time to travel and enjoy life.  Jesus, his Good Shepherd, was there with him in all those moments of joy and celebration.

But there were difficult times as well, both physically and emotionally, as John’s struggles gradually increased.

As John walked through the valley of the shadow of death, first with Phyllis, and then himself, Jesus walked with him.  The Good Shepherd was close to him to the very end. 

John continued to hear God’s Word and the devotions you read together, he prayed and he sang, and received the Lord’s Supper.

Jesus was close to John all the way to the end. And as He promised, the Good Shepherd has now brought John safely home, to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

John’s home was important to him.  He took pride in caring for his gardens and his lawn. That home was important to you, too, as the place where you grew up, the place where you gathered for holidays and celebrations, or just to have a meal and watch some TV.

You were telling me that John never quite grasped the concept that he was not going back to the house, that he couldn’t live there any more.  He just wanted to go home.

Well, now John is truly home.  Jesus told His disciples before His death that there were many rooms in His Father’s house, and He was going to prepare a place for them.

John’s place was ready, and now he is truly home.

Know for sure, that he didn’t make it on his own efforts.  As wonderful as John was as a father, grandfather, and friend, he still had his moments, especially near the end.  He was a sinner like each and every one of us.

And that’s why Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”

The only way home, the only way back to the Father, the only way we have this promise of everlasting life is through Jesus Christ.

Jesus went first.  He suffered and died on the cross.  He rose from the dead on Easter morning.  He ascended to heaven to the right hand of the Father, so that we could follow him, through death to everlasting life.  And He’s preparing a place in that house for you, too.

Did you hear that description from Isaiah 25? This will be a place of joy and celebration.  Feasting. Food and wine.  Joy and laughter.  A celebration that will never end.

You are a close family.

Chances are you don’t feel as close to your dad as you did a few weeks ago. 

It will be very strange for you not seeing him on a daily basis, not having him around to share a donut with.

But remember this.  John was close to Jesus, and so as long as you stay close to Jesus, you’ll stay close to John, too.

If you want to be close to John, be where Jesus is, be in worship with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven in the Divine Service, be in God’s Word hearing those same words that gave John comfort and strength throughout life, be at the Lord’s Supper where you can share a meal with John one more time.

Because one day Jesus will return, and He will raise the dead and gather all His people together, and He will bring us all closer than we’ve ever been before around His heavenly throne.