The Eulogy

For the first time in many years, i have embarked upon a programme of study, The CCRS Course...with the first module being based on 'Christology.'

Most of my friends and colleagues know that, i have a ministry here in Derby and throughout The East Midlands working with The Bereaved, within the context of Christian Celebration of Life Style Services, reflecting on the person, their life, their personality.

Whilst i was reflecting and taking time to pray during my study this afternoon...I Found myself wondering what would i say to the congregation, in the guise of a celebration of life tribute, if i was asked to conduct The Funeral Service of Jesus at our local Cemetery with a 20 minute service slot...and I came up with the following

I doubt whether there will be many of you present that will be able to cast your minds back to Bethlehem during 4BC, when Jesus first came into this world a son to Mary and The Holy Spirit.


He would be brought up by his Mother Mary and Step Father Joseph, and from an early age would grow up in Nazareth, alongside his brothers James, Joses, Simon and Judas, and his sister Salome.

His Step Father Joseph was a carpenter by trade, so alongside his Dad, Jesus would work in nearby Sephoris (a City being rebuilt between 3BC and 12 AD,) and according to Jesus's close friend Fr Murphy O'Connor, 'Jesus's youth was spent in The Cosmopolitan world of a Major Construction Site' (quoted from an article in The Sunday Times 24.12.88)

After being baptised in The River Jordon by John The Baptist, Jesus, continued to work in a Ministerial capacity preaching about 'The Kingdom of God' firstly in Judaea, and then following the arrest of his Cousin John The Baptist, Jesus preached in Galilee.

Although Jesus was never blest with any children of his own, he did have very close friendships with his 12 best friends first, Simon (Known to you all as Peter) his brother Andrew; James, and his brother John; Philip, Bartholomew; Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, and i am sure that those of his friends who are present today will remember some of those special times that they have spent with Jesus over the past few years.

So we have spent some time speaking of Jesus's early life, his family and career, but to gather more of a picture for him I would like to ask you all a question. What were the things that made him happy the things that made Jesus smile?

Here you may recall, that Jesus loved to be close to creation, for he loved spending time walking from town to town with his Disciples. He also loved water...especially when he was walking on it

He also enjoyed going out socialising, and some of you may remember Jesus Changing water in wine at his friends wedding in Canaan of Galilee

Thoughts today could be of Jesus spending time with his friends in The Upper Room breaking bread and sharing Wine.

In quieter moments memories may be of Jesus in The presence of his father spending time in prayer'

Memories may simply be, that although from time to time Jesus was known to lose his temper...and perhaps today isn't the time or place to mention the time he visited The Temple, and that he was prone to make some enemies, which lead to his eventual torture and his sentence to death by Crucifixion, at The hands of The Roman occupying forces in Jerusalem.

He was a well liked man by those who choose to follow and accept his teachings, and i am sure that he will be deeply missed by those who have come to know him over the years.

The above is the funeral eulogy which would have been used if he had been buried the same day...in England it can know take up to 10 days to bury a loved one, so Fortunately, this eulogy would never been read, for as we know Jesus Rose again on The Third Day, Alleluia!!!