Funeral Sermon for Loreen Babbitt: "Jesus the Fighter"

+ In Memoriam – Loreen Babbitt +

Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Milton

1 Corinthians 15:45-57

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.

Even though I didn’t know Loreen as well as you all did, I do know that she was a fighter. That she battled cancer these past few years. That Earlier in life, She fought to provide her family with all they need. And that, most importantly of all, she knew our Lord who fought for her, and gave his life for her, just as he fought and gave his life for you on the cross. 

As St. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 

You see, Paul reveals the faith that gave Loreen, and all who are baptized in Jesus’ Name, such strength and courage. It is not something we earn or deserve or win for ourselves. It is gift. Purchased and won for us, not with gold or silver, nor on a battlefield, but won for us by Jesus crucified. For Loreen, for you, and for all, Jesus is the supreme fighter. 

As St. Paul goes on to say:

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This is why Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose for Loreen and for you, so that death and disease would not have the day, and not triumph over us. 

Jesus fought to the death for Loreen. for you. For all. To take on all our sin, disease, and death and rise victoriously from the dead. To ensure that one day we, along with Loreen and all the faithful departed, will rise again, just as our Lord did 3 days after his victory on the cross for us. 

then the saying that is written will come true: 

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
   Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Name of + Jesus. Amen.