Just a week or so ago I was visiting Dewey in the hospital. He was in pain but was able to put to use his undying sense of humor anyway. As we talked about various troubles and difficulties and things, he remarked to me, “Pastor, it's too bad there aren't more perfect people like you and me in this world!” It was funny, of course, because that's exactly NOT what Dewey believed. He knew he wasn't perfect, his life wasn't perfect (and I'm sure he knew his pastor isn't perfect). Dewey knew what all Christians confess: that we are imperfect, sinners, doomed to death except for the life and perfection of Jesus Christ. So today as we mourn Dewey's death, we at the same time rejoice that he has fallen asleep in Jesus. You will have many hours and days ahead of good memories of Dewey. Stories to tell. Things that will make your face light up with smiles because of the things that Dewey said and did. But right now, at this moment, our hope, our joy, our comfort, our peace, is all in what Jesus has done for Dewey. It is why we mourn today not as those who have no hope but as those whose hope is in Jesus Christ, the first-begotten from the dead.
Jesus tells His disciples, and that means you and me, too: “I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I am preparing a place for you, I will come back to take you there.” The place that Jesus has prepared for Dewey and all of His baptized people is the place of eternal life with Him. Jesus has prepared that place long before Dewey was even born. Jesus prepares a place for us and for Dewey by coming to our place, to our flesh, to this world and life, to take away our sins. Jesus does this work by coming to take the place of sinners—Dewey's place and your place. He takes the place of sinners by becoming a man and carrying out sins to the cross and dying for them there and then rising triumphant—from death!--the third day. That is Dewey's preparation. You can't go see the Lord if you have sins. So the Lord has taken away Dewey's sins by the blood of Jesus and His death and resurrection so that now the place is ready for Dewey and Dewey has been made ready for eternal life.
In fact, all of Dewey's life has been preparation for eternal life. Baptized into Christ in the waters of the holy font. There, claimed by the Father as His own son, washed and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus, snatched away from the devil and hell and brought into the Lord's kingdom. Then, throughout his life, the Good News of Jesus' death and resurrection for sinners put into Dewey's ears through the preaching of the Gospel and the Absolution for his sins. His mouth filled with the body and blood of Jesus carrying with it the forgiveness of sins and life and salvation. Dewey, blind in the last year or so of his life, loved to tell visitors, “Good to see you. You're looking good today!” We laugh. But we know that though his eyes were blind yet the eyes of faith saw Jesus present in His holy gifts of Word and Sacrament, preparing Dewey a place in eternal life. Be confident, dearly beloved in Jesus! Be joyful! Give thanks to God this day! Jesus has taken care of everything. He's made all the arrangements. He's done all the work. He's paid the full price. He's laid hold of Dewey and has now taken Him to the paradise of the blessed in Christ. Now all that is left is for the Lord to return on that Last Day and wake Dewey and all of us up and give life to our bodies in the resurrection of our flesh. We'll see Dewey again, then, but even more wonderful, we shall all see Jesus as He is.
When I first visited Dewey about a year ago, I learned of his talents in the area of woodworking. I had the opportunity to see many of the wonderful pieces he had made. But more than any other piece he treasured was one he had not even made. It was a little tiny but very detailed carving of the Last Supper of Jesus and the Apostles. He couldn't see it but it was handed to him and he handed it to me, to marvel at the skill that it took to make such a thing. But there was Dewey's life: to marvel in the work not just of that particular carpenter who had made a carving of Jesus. Dewey marveled to rejoice in and to receive the gifts given by THE carpenter, Jesus His Savior. We know that Jesus has prepared a place for Dewey in eternal life. It's a fact demonstrated by His baptism, by Holy Absolution and by the body and blood of Jesus. Let us too fix our eyes upon Jesus, upon whom Dewey fixed his eyes (and his eyes of faith). It is this Jesus through whom and in whom Emmett Dewey Cox now rests, free from illness and pain and suffering, with eyes wide open to behold His Lord. Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us and Dewey from all sin and death and the power of the devil. And who has given Dewey to dwell with Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. Amen.