Alive in Christ: The Funeral of Esther Orn

Alive in Christ

The Funeral of Esther Orn – 7/21/2025

Isaiah 40:28-31, Hebrews 12:1-3, John 14:1-6

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer – St. John’s Lutheran Church of Oakes, ND

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. John in the fourteenth chapter with special emphasis on verses five and six which read as follows:

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

                Dear friends in Christ, today we have set before us the task of laying to rest our dear sister Esther Orn. She was, and is, a great and precious gift to you from God the Father, shown that you have made it a point to come here today to see this done. That is to say, it is normal and right to mourn someone that God has put into our lives. Even though this world of ours would tell us that there is nothing to miss in a long, long life like Esther's, we Christians know better. She is a precious gift of God, given to you as a mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend. And since she is such a great and precious gift from God, we certainly will miss her.

                But today is not only characterized by grief and loss, it is also an occasion to reflect on the Savior of Esther, indeed the Savior of the entire world, Jesus Christ. And before us there are three lessons chosen by the family that teach us three things about what our Savior has done for Esther, indeed, for all the faithful.

Isaiah

                Death is a great and powerful thing, one that hounds all of us. Even Esther, who had over a century to ready herself for the end of her life, still stubbornly clung to the desire to live. This should not surprise us, as lively as she was. More still, this confesses that life is a good gift, a precious and holy thing that is given by God Himself and should be cherished as such. But, even with this acknowledgement, we must also admit that death hounds each of us and, eventually, claims us all. There is no one here present who will not be devoured by death. The Scriptures are clear about this, all who have sinned die.[2] And I know, this is one of those great faux pas that preachers are never supposed to say at funerals, but we Christians never shy away from the truth. And, indeed, if we cannot say that Esther is a sinner, then we cannot say that Jesus came for her. The Lord Jesus only comes for sinners and by admitting this, we also admit that Jesus came for her, and everyone like her.

                But death is a problem, and we desperately crave a solution. Our first lesson is that Isaiah gives us one here: God is greater than all things, being the very Almighty, and He is able to do anything He wills and wishes, even roll back death and its root of sin. Even the very old will be given youth and vigor, indeed, the faithful departed have this in paradise as they await the resurrection of their bodies.

Hebrews

                Secondly, the Epistle to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is the One who does this Godly thing, that is, is the one who gives us a reason to have faith in Him. That is to say, He, by His death, overcame death and sin and made a way into paradise for Esther and, indeed all believers. And, through this crucified Lord, there is no power on earth, in hell below, or in heaven above that can keep us from God. Indeed, even our faith in Jesus is not our own doing, it is the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is all to say that Esther, who was baptized a century ago, was there united to Christ in a death like His in order to prepare for this day, the day she was laid to rest in Christ, her Savior.

                You see, the Christian faith is not an abstraction, not a feel good, vague set of niceties. For our sakes, for our comfort, God comes to us concretely, specifically, to bind us to Himself, to redeem us from death, and to deliver us from sin and the Devil. Firstly, this is seen in the simple truth that God put Himself in a box, so to speak, by sending His Son Jesus to be born of Mary, in order to suffer and die for the salvation of the word. And the fruit of this specific, concrete mission of salvation was applied to Esther first in her Baptism, but not only there. Every time she came to church and heard that Word of God read or preached, Jesus again visited Himself on her, keeping her in the faith. Every time she took the Lord’s Supper, Jesus united Himself with her as she received the very body and blood of her Lord that we given into death for her salvation. Each time she was absolved, forgiven, of her sins, Jesus again imparted the wholesome benefits of His saving death to her.

John

                Jesus is not exaggerating in our Gospel lesson about His unique place in salvation and history. Thirdly, Jesus is the very means for Esther, and us, to be brought to heaven. It is in vogue these days to cast aside Christ and appeal to general niceties as the basis for our security. But vague spiritual impressions are not sufficient for comfort or security. And besides this, the plain experience of being a human is enough to teach us that there is a great spiritual problem made manifest in the evils of this world. No, specific problems require specific solutions. And through Jesus there is a way to the Father. Without Jesus there is not. Esther knew this, and she believed that her Lord would take her to Himself, as He promised. God did not leave us to guess or wonder about important things like our eternal fates, no, He gave us specific answers and specific solutions. And all He would have us do is simply trust the things He says and works He has done, namely, see the death of Christ as our remedy for sin, death, and the devil.

Conclusion

                Dear friends in Christ, we need not worry about Esther. Yes, we will mourn and miss her, and this is good and appropriate for one such as her, a wonderful gift to you from God. But we do not mourn such that we worry and fret about where she is now. Jesus is the way for her, the truth that illumined her life, and, indeed, her very life and salvation. Esther is with Christ, not by her work or effort, but by the certain, unshakable, concrete, and specific work of Jesus Himself.

In the Holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] John 14:5-6 English Standard Version. All subsequent quotations from Holy Scripture are from the ESV.

[2] Romans 6:23