Asleep in Jesus

By Rev. David Petersen

Upon physical death, that is, when the soul is separated from the body, it is our custom to embalm, dress, and then pose the bodies of our loved ones so that they appear to be sleeping. We like the insides of our coffins to be quilted, to look comfortable. The family gathers and the public is invited to come and offer their condolences, to pay their last respects, and to “view” the body before the coffin is closed for the funeral.

Some have criticized this custom. They have claimed it is a denial of death. They would honor the person’s personality, achievements, and soul, but not the body. Some, too, are simply squeamish. They do not want to look. I propose, however, that despite its awkwardness, this is the ideal way to bury a Christian.

We must never forget that the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh to redeem our flesh. He did not merely suffer in His soul or seem to be hurt and to die. He paid for our sins in His body and soul. He died and rose and ascended in the flesh, in body and soul. He is still flesh of our flesh, bone of our bones, fully human. His ascension to His Father has elevated human nature and opened heaven’s gates for us. It is in that same body and blood, born of Mary, nailed to the cross, and now ruling all the universe, that He comes to us in the Holy Supper and joins our flesh to His, purifies our hearts and minds, and claims us as His own. We dare not despise the body.

The Scriptures also teach us that those who believe in Jesus will never die. They only pass through death and into life. St. Paul describes this as “falling asleep in Jesus.” We died in Christ when we were baptized. We will never die again. The bodies we commit to the earth will not stay there forever. They may decay, but they will be put back together again. They will rise. They will be perfected and rejoined to their souls and bask in the gracious presence and bliss of the Lamb forevermore. To make the body look comfortably asleep is a bold confession for the mourning Christian. We stand on the edge of the grave with our dead and through our tears say, “O Grave, where is thy victory?” We are hurt, but we have not lost. The devil cannot steal our faith for we know the truth. Our believing loved one has gone before us. We are separated for a time, but not forever.

That is why we treat the body with respect. This is not an “empty shell”; it is our loved one. The arms that held us, the lips that kissed us, will do so again on the last day. In a very real sense it is not they who are dead, but us. For we still abide in this living death. We have been brought to life in Christ Jesus. Faith has been planted in us by the Holy Spirit in the waters of Baptism. But our bodies are decaying, weakening, growing sick, and frail. We still contend and suffer with our sins. We hurt ourselves and those we love.

The good work God has begun. He has not yet completed in us. Our faith is not yet full. Our sanctification is not yet perfect. But theirs has stopped. Their souls are free. They have no sin. They are perfect in Christ, now in the eyes of God and man. They have come to their reward. Already now their souls are in Abraham’s bosom, and already now they are praying for us with the other saints “How long, O Lord?” They are eager for our sorrow to also end, for the trumpet’s blast, for the Son of Man to show Himself to all creation, for the graves to open and for every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Soon we all, who also confess that Jesus is the Christ, shall enjoy what they already know. Come, Lord Jesus. Come quickly!

The Rev. David Petersen is pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.