Like all of you, I miss _____.  Since we’ve been here at Creekside Lloyd has been a part of our lives.  Mine.  Karen’s.  Our kids. 

One of my first memories of _____ was when we were just arriving here.  _____ was painting the curbs out in front by where the lawn used to be.  Over the years I found that to be pretty typical of _____.  He did a lot of little things around here that added up to big things.  _____ didn’t want lot’s of recognition.  But he was a very crucial part of God’s ministry here.  I miss having him around.  We miss him as part of this congregation.

I miss his stories.  I don’t know how true all of them were.  I sense sometimes that he embellished just a tad.  But, I enjoyed listening to him and his perspective on things.  He had a way of cutting to the bottom line that was pretty refreshing.  Not always PC.  But refreshing.

I’d like to share one verse of Scripture with you this morning which I hope will encourage you this morning.  From John 16.  Recorded in verse 33, Jesus is talking to His disciples.  Jesus says this:   “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

One thing, I think we all agree on, is that when _____ passed a huge part of _____ went with her.  We saw that in him.  Since March 26, 2009 _____ has been waiting to join _____.  In a very real sense through out his life - and especially since _____ passed - _____ experienced what Jesus called “tribulation.”

Maybe you’ve tried this - trying to cram way too much stuff in to a suitcase and then pushing down and trying to zipper it shut.  That’s the kind of tribulation that Jesus is talking about here.  Tons of pressure applied and something’s gonna get pushed out of shape.  Tribulation - the Greek word here - tribulation is like that.  Being compressed, stressed, and distressed.

To one degree or another, tribulation in life is inevitable.  We go through tribulation.  The loss of a spouse - someone we love.  Illness.  Family issues.  On and on.  Days like to day.  Life has tribulation.  _____ knew tribulation.

But, Jesus is sharing with His disciples so that in the midst of tribulation that can know peace.  Not the kind of peace that comes and goes based on what’s going on around us.  But deep down settledness that remains in spite of what’s going on around us.  Peace that comes because they know Him - Jesus:  “...in Me you may have peace.”

“In the world you will have tribulation.  But, take heart; I have overcome the world.”

To “take heart” means “to get a grip.”  Get a grip on your heart.  Grab some confidence.  Grab some courage.

Why?  “I - Jesus - have overcome the world.”      

In John 16, Jesus is talking to His disciples about His being crucified.  The torturous events - the beatings and scourging and torture leading up to the cross.  The horror of the crucifixion itself.  And their front row seat to all that.  Their coming sorrow.  The potential for fear and hopelessness.  To struggle with their belief in Jesus.  How the disciples are going to be scattered.  Coming tribulation. 

The potential is to look at the cross.  To see Jesus being crucified and to see one epic failure.  Jesus is telling them and us to look at the cross and see the one epic victory.

To “overcome” is to triumph over.  To decimate and crush and utterly obliterate the opposition.  Unquestioned dominance and authority over sin and death - the worst of this world.  Jesus can tell sin and death what to go do with itself and it must.

Which is what Jesus does on the cross.  Takes our sin.  Takes the penalty for our sin.  Takes whatever it is that separates us from God and deals with it - period.  So that, when we choose to trust that God in Jesus on the cross - really has dealt with everything that needs to be dealt with to heal our relationship with God - when we trust in Jesus as our Savior from sin and the penalty for our sin - that in Jesus, God has done for us all that needs to be done and we trust our lives to Him - God gives to us that healed relationship with Him and we get to live in Jesus’ overwhelming victory over the crud and sin and death of this world.

That’s why Jesus can tell Martha - on the way to the tomb of her brother Lazarus - on the way to Jesus resurrecting Lazarus:  “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  (John 11:25,26)

Peace is not the absence of tribulation.  Peace is having a settled heart level stability in the midst of tribulation.  Because what we have confidence in - or Who we have confidence in - is way bigger - way greater - has infinite authority over the temporary crud of what goes on around us.

Jesus Who is resurrection and life.  Jesus Who has overcome.

That was _____'s hope - even in tribulation.  We know he struggled with stuff - especially since _____ passed.  We know he had questions about things.  Which of us doesn’t?  But, when I’d ask him, “_____ how are you doing spiritually?  Are you trusting in Jesus as your Savior?”  His answer was always yes.

I hope that encourages you this morning.  To know that in Jesus, _____ is victorious over death.  That he and _____ - and all of us who share that hope and life in Jesus - no matter what the tribulation of today - we get to live in that victory together forever in the presence of God.  Take heart.  Jesus has overcome the world.

_________________________

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.