John Platten Funeral (December 1, 2018)

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: Revelation 7:14
Theme: Freed By The Blood Of The Lamb

Dear family, friends, and loved ones of John, Terry, Karen, Denise, and especially you; Dorothy,

Time waits for no man. And death waits only until its divinely appointed hour. Then, the inevitable must come to pass. Instantly the threshold is crossed. Soul and body are severed, and as the Scripture says, “The dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”1 The last breath is taken. The eyes close for the final time. The believer wakes to the brightness of the eternal realm. The angels rejoice, and God receives back His own. John has been released from all worry, care and anxiety. He is freed from all pain, suffering, and fear. He has been crowned with life. He is in the presence of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God!

As we reflect today upon the life God granted to John it’s fitting for us to be mindful of our own mortality. A Christian funeral isn’t one-dimensional. It’s not merely an occasion to stop and honour the life that was. Our purpose here isn’t restricted to looking back over the horizon of John’s earthly life alone. The entire objective of Christ’s intervention into our fallen world is to restore what was meant to be. John now enjoys unending life. He has taken his final place in that mystical communion of God’s people that transcends time and space.

Death was not in the original equation. Death is the consequence of rebellion against God. All must face the guilt of their sins. Sin separates from God. But eternal separation was never God’s intention. Of course, people still chose it for themselves, decide to go their own way. Yet only Christ could atone for the sins of others, only He could overcome death. Therefore, the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”1 So, this existence is not the be all and end all. It’s a difficult message to advocate in our self-indulged, here-and-now-focused society.

Yet, it’s a message that’s needed as much as ever. There is only one way to cross from this mortal life into the heavenly kingdom and none of us holds it in our power. We are saved by grace, though faith or not at all. Christ was crucified for our sins. He was raised to bring us life. The apostle summarizes saying, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”2


It’s difficult to comprehend how much society changed during John’s lifetime. John first came to Loxton with a horse and cart. Imagine trying that today! The practical differences in the way we live our daily lives compared to 60 or 70 years ago are profound. Think only of the advances in medicine, transportation, and communication. Yet, people are fundamentally no different in any age. We are sinners in need of the grace of God. John was born, just like everyone else, in a state of alienation from God. But in baptism the Holy Spirit claimed him as a child of God granting him faith and the promise of the forgiveness of sins in Christ.

John adapted to the changes over the decades mostly with determination and good humour.
John’s dad was in the army. That reality alone tends to produce a mature perspective on life at an earlier age. John was resourceful in negotiating his way through life. That doesn’t mean he didn’t have challenges, struggles, and even regrets. Sometimes no one can say what regrets, if any, a person may have had in his or her life, what confessions are uttered to God on the deathbed. We often hold them tightly in our possession either too wise to trouble those who may be hurt by them, or too ashamed to let them be resolved by those who would readily forgive us. Sometimes both motives are at play. But God knows. Our deepest secrets are open before Him.

We should consider carefully those things which we should take to our graves. What are our motives? What are our fears? Who might be helped? Who might be hurt? Like repentance toward God, pursuit of reconciliation with others should never be put off until conditions seem more favourable. Maybe it will require decisive humility? Maybe you can muster nothing more than a strained plea to the Almighty that He take in hand what you don’t have the strength or integrity to do?

God forgives. He is full of grace. He is quick to pardon. He hurries to embrace us like the father rushing to his prodigal son. He seeks our reconciliation like the Good Shepherd looking for the lost sheep. The Saviour didn’t go to the cross for nothing. He doesn’t poor out His blood without purpose. Recipients of divine forgiveness are privileged to offer that forgiveness to others. The Scripture says, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”3

Some months back now I ran into John in the Berri Plaza. It was the first time I had really had a decent chat with him. He spoke honestly and transparently about his health struggles. I could tell it was more than just a casual conversation. I believe John knew already then, that God was preparing him to be called home relatively soon. From God’s perspective it was exactly the right time. It was not the will of the Lord that John enjoy another Christmas here. Now he experiences an unending Easter. Time waits for no man, but eternity takes no thought of time. Ceaseless enjoyment of the company of Christ hardly registers with us now even with our best efforts at imagining. But faith accepts the mystery on the authority of God’s promise.

Dorothy, more than sixty years of marriage is a feat that will not be matched by nearly as many couples in the coming generation. It truly was, ‘til death do you part.’ No one will be able to replace John as a husband, or a as a father or grandfather. It’s appropriate to cherish those memories as you grieve. You’ve already grieved through the loss of a daughter together. But grief is not the final word. Our hope in God is not misplaced. The Holy Spirit will not forsake believers. His truth is indestructible. Christ has broken the power of death. The tomb could not hold Him. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”4

John has been freed by the power of Christ’s blood. Thanks be to God that He has received John into the place prepared for him by the Saviour. Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Christian Burial of John Evan Platten
1 December 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Ecclesiastes 12:7 2 Romans 9:9-10
3 Colossians 3:13 4 John 11:25-26