Sermon - Merle Kitzmann

The Burial Carl Heinrich Bloch, 1873

Hark, a loud voice from the throne of heaven declares: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Dear Lois, Anne, John, siblings, relatives, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ, death shall be no more! Our God and Lord, Jesus the Christ, has destroyed death. In dying He has atoned for sins, and in rising again He has opened the gates of paradise. What joy to know that this man whom we remember today has been forgiven all of his sins by the blood of Jesus, and shall follow his Master from the grave to the holy city of the New Jerusalem! Death, Merle’s death, shall be no more. His tears and yours shall be wiped away by the hand of God.

Today, however, tears are an understandable thing. About a month and half have gone by since Merle has fallen asleep in the Lord. Yet, Lois, I’m sure it feels like just yesterday you were being introduced to Merle and going on your first dates. You told me all about how the two of you met and were introduced by others with such clarity and affection. Memories often produce tears as we remember times which we cannot recapture.

Merle lived an incredibly full-life, which means there were many memories made along the way. Childhood with his siblings, his long educational career, his pastoral ministry in different congregations, his marriage, and his fatherhood. He was filled with many passions, from German to Music, from growing plants to animal husbandry, from his intellectual pursuits with books to his hands-on work in the dirt.

But above them all Merle’s greatest passion was and is his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Kitzmanns seem to be known for two things: Over in Germany their beer! The German Kitzmanns have been brewing beer since the 1700’s. But here in the midwest, the Kitzmanns are known for their love of Christ, with many pastors in the family and his own father as a pastor. I just love the connection Lois pointed out to me; Merle’s grandfather and uncle served as pastors nearly a century ago in one of the congregations I previously served in Iowa. 

Merle really was invested in the work of the church. Concordia High School in St. Paul, Concordia Junior College in Fort Wayne, Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, studying abroad in Heidelberg, and then acquiring a graduate degree upon his return. Then spending the remainder of his life serving congregations throughout Minnesota, including here in Mankato. Merle was a servant of Christ.

Yet, in spite of all of this intellectual study Merle performed, it was all for the sake of the Gospel which even children can know. “ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.”” All of Merle’s accomplishments and labors were for the sake of declaring the mighty works of God to ordinary people. 

It might seem strange, however, that a man who dedicated His life to the proclamation of the Gospel ends up in the same place as everyone else: laying in a cemetery. For you see, the wages of sin is death, and in spite of Merle’s passion for Christ Jesus, he was a sinner nonetheless. He is lying in the grave today because Merle was a sinner.

This was no surprise to Merle, afterall, he led congregations of Christians to confess: “I, a poor, miserable, sinner.” In spite of Merle’s strengths, he knew that ultimately he was a poor and lowly man, plagued by sins, and his end on earth would be marked by death. He knew his frailties, which is why he put his faith in Jesus, who promises: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Amidst a soul troubled by sin, sick with death, heavily laden with griefs and sorrows, Merle has faith in Jesus who has given Him rest. 

And that is exactly what Merle is doing right now! Merle is resting! He’s sleeping! In mercy, God the Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ, and in love for us Jesus laid down his life upon the cross in order to atone for our sins. In love for Merle, Jesus was crucified, died, and buried to pay the debt of Merle’s sins. The wages of sin, the punishment of death, was carried out upon Christ Jesus, in order that Merle may be freed from his sins and death. In dying, Christ rose again as the firstfruits of the grave, so that all who rest in Jesus shall rise with Jesus.

This means that Merle’s death is no death, not really. Dead things don’t rise again. Ever. Merle is not dead, but asleep in the Lord. Merle is resting in peace, awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus, who shall summon him from the grave to walk in everlasting life in His kingdom. Merle is waiting for everything to be made new. Like Jesus says: “Behold, I am making all things new… To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” He is making all things new.

You know that sorrow and grief you’re feeling when you reminisce about memories you cannot relive? Jesus makes all things new. This is fantastic! You will make new memories with Merle in the new creation! There’s more! For you who love the Lord Jesus Christ, who come to Him and find your rest in Him, you will have an eternity not just to relive old memories, but to make new memories without end.

To that end, I adjure you, heed the words of Christ, and come to Him in faith and remain with Him. Look to Merle’s example of faithfulness, and honor his memory in the most powerful way, by emulating him and his faith. I know, you might object saying he was a pastor, and he was really smart, and I can’t do what he did. And sure, you don’t have to have the same education he did or be a pastor, but remember this great treasure of forgiveness and everlasting life in Jesus’ name is not just for the wise and understanding, but even for the little children. Look to Merle’s example, who spent his life as a little child, listening to his Heavenly Father, and delighting in God’s good gifts. Follow Merle’s example and may his heritage of faith be yours. May the precious treasure of Jesus’ blood shed for you be treasured in your heart for all eternity.

To conclude, I’d like to read you the final words of the hymn we just sang. Merle had the first stanza of Now Rest beneath Night’s Shadow engraved in German and English on a bench on the farm. The fifth stanza is spoken by the hymn writer to his loved ones, and is encouragement to find hope in Christ amidst a dark world, and to finally fall asleep in death in Christ with the speaker, where asleep the angels will guard us. If you will, they make a powerfully encouraging word from Merle to you.

“My loved ones, rest securely, for God this night will surely from peril guard your heads. Sweet slumber may He send you and bid His hosts attend you and through the night watch over your beds.”