Delivered Sunday Morning September 9, 2001

To the Indore Baptist Church

By Jeff Short

John 20:15

Mary had come first to the tomb. She was determined to find Christ. However, His body was not there. She inquired of the angels and wept, thinking that His body was carried away. She did indeed find Christ, but she was not expecting a living Christ with whom she could converse. So when she saw Him, she thought that He was the gardener and inquired of Him concerning the whereabouts of the body of the Lord.

I remember reading a sermon that Charles Spurgeon preached from this text. I believe that some of his thoughts are very appropriate at this time as we are grieved with the death of our dear brother Don Epperly. I wish for a few minutes to suppose Christ to be the gardener. I would that we could view Him in His garden with His people that are the planting of His own hands.

I see Christ, the gardener, as He walks in the midst of His fruitful plot. All manner of diverse plantings surround Him. Many are the colors that adorn them. Some are very tall and some stoop. Some are greatly spread out and some compact. Some are in the areas of sunlight. Some are in places of shade. Some are placed upon the crown of the hill. Yet, some are in the hollows. Some are near water in the moist soil and some in the dry ground. His nail-scarred hands have planted every one. He is faithful and tireless working in the garden. He cultivates the plants and brings forth the sun and the rain to refresh them. He feeds them and cares for every one.

The gardener in the cool of the evening walks among the blooming rows. His breathing is deliberate and slow to take in the sweet smelling savor. He is not in a hurry. He evidently enjoys the time in His garden. When He comes to a particular place at a certain time, He stoops down. With tender hand, He reaches down and plucks a beautiful flower in full bloom. His countenance shines with joy. He stands upright and presses the petals to His cheek. He turns to His dwelling. The flower that did grow and flourish under His care shall tonight adorn His table and bring a sweet aroma to His whole house.

In John chapter 17 Christ prayed that His people, the ones that the Father had given Him, be with Him where He is. The desire of Christ is for His people to be with Him. In John chapter 14 he promised that He was going to prepare a place and that He would come again, that where I am there you may be also. We know that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Therefore, we do not sorrow as others that have no hope. The bounds of our habitation have been appointed in the sovereign will of an almighty God. He holds the times in His own hand.

It is doubtless that Brother Don trusted Him in life and trusted Him in death. When he was having chest pains and was very near the end of his time, he took time to help out a brother in need. Brother Don was a good man and was unselfish, even in the last hour of his life on this earth.

The Bible says that when Lazarus died, he was borne by the angels. It also tells us that there is rejoicing in Heaven over the salvation of one soul. I also believe that there is rejoicing in Heaven when a born-again child of God comes home. Solomon said that the time of one’s death was better than the time of one’s birth. In our souls we are rejoicing in many ways. However, in our flesh we are grieving, feeling the loss. Don was a beloved brother in the Lord, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, cousin, family member, preacher, and pastor. We that are upon the earth will miss him. Teach us, O Lord, to number our days! I pray that we will redeem the time and look up as our redemption draweth nigh.