5 Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral All Prove The Same Thing
Mel Johnson
GodUpdates Contributor
March 06, 2018
On February 21, 2018, Billy Graham breathed his last breath on earth and his first in Heaven. And when the world laid to rest "America's Pastor," there were loads of notable moments from Billy Graham's funeral. All pointed to the same thing: Billy Graham was the real deal, a true man of God!
On March 2, 2018, thousands showed up in North Carolina for a service, dubbed the "last crusade," honoring the late Billy Graham. He was a man who spent his life living and preaching the Gospel. As Billy's son, Franklin Graham, put it, "my father followed Jesus all the way to heaven.”
RELATED: 40 Courageous Quotes from Billy GrahamHere are 5 notable moments from Billy Graham's funeral and the emotional celebration of a life well lived!
1. Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral -- His Casket
As a faithful Christian, Billy had no fear of death. In fact, he helped plan his funeral with his family a decade ago.
"His fingerprints are on this service for sure," family spokesman Mark DeMoss said. "The Graham family has long considered that his funeral eventually would really be his last crusade."
At such a high-profile funeral, you might expect to see a very ornate (and expensive) casket. But Billy's simple coffin is a unique touch that speaks to his humility. And it stands out as one of the notable moments from Billy Graham's funeral.
The pine plywood casket has an inscription burned into its side: "Handcrafted by Richard Liggett, Paul Krolowitz, Clifford Bowman." But who are Richard, Paul, and Clifford?
Rather than spend money on the finest casket a funeral parlor has to offer, three hardened inmates from a Louisiana State Penitentiary built Billy's in 2006. It was a gift from Billy's oldest son, Franklin.
When Franklin visited Angola, the largest maximum security prison in the world, he fell in love with the "simple and natural beauty" of the wooden caskets coming out of the prison's carpentry workshop. And so, he had them make two for his parents, lined with just a white mattress pad and a wooden cross nailed on top.
"Billy Graham is a simple man who preached a simple message. He must be buried in a simple casket," said convicted murderer Richard who helped build the casket.
When Franklin presented his parents with the gift, they loved it.
"The prisoners are people who need forgiveness, too," Franklin's son, Roy Graham, recalls. "And that's what my grandmother loved about it. We all need forgiveness."
WATCH: The Making Of Billy Graham's Casket
Even Billy's headstone will have the simple yet fitting phrase: “Preacher of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
His grave marker is simple--a field stone etched with these words under a cross:
Billy's casket will be buried next to his wife in a memorial prayer garden at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, NC.
2. Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral - The Love Story
Credit: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
Billy's son, Franklin, began his eulogy reminiscing over the deep love shared between his parents.
"I cannot remember my father without remembering my mother," he said. "She loved my father. He loved her. He adored her. She was his soulmate in life."
Franklin went on to talk about the huge hole his mother's passing left in Billy's heart. He recalled how, in his mother's final days, his parents would just sit and stare into each other's eyes for hours. Their lives were lived together. And hearing Franklin describe his parents' oneness makes for an amazing illustration of Ephesians 5:31:
“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”RELATED: Defend Your Marriage From Divorce With These 4 Powerful Prayers
Their love story is so beautiful because marriage is meant to reflect God's love for His people. It's the reason Satan tries so hard to attack and destroy marriages. What a joy to see the Graham's love endure!
3. Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral - Ruth's Story
Credit: Youtube
When Billy's daughter, Ruth, took the stage, it was to share a real-life inspirational story similar to that of The Prodigal Son from the Bible. And her tear-jerker recollection was certainly one of the notable moments from Billy Graham's funeral!
Ruth found herself "floundering" after her 21-year marriage to the father of her children ended in a messy divorce. Of course, her loving family was there to see her through. She took her family's advice to move away for a fresh start and went to live near one of her sisters.
It wasn't too long before the pastor at her local church introduced Ruth Graham to a widower. The relationship took off fast and furious and Ruth ignored all of her family's pleas to slow things down.
"Being stubborn, willful, and sinful, I married this man on New Year's Eve," she says.
She knew immediately she'd made a mistake. And after five weeks of marriage, she fled from her new husband. She was afraid of him.
Feeling like a failure, she expected her family to reject her. She didn't want to embarrass her father, especially given that her father was Billy Graham. But Ruth knew she had to face them.
Ruth's Inspirational Story Of Billy Graham's Forgiveness
She drove for two days to see her parents, fretting all the way. She drove up the mountain to her parents' home, and as she rounded the bend, there was Billy standing there waiting for her.
"As I got out of the car, he wrapped his arms around me and he said 'Welcome home.' There was no shame, there was no blame, there was no condemnation," Ruth tearfully recalled. "There was just unconditional love. . . My father was not God, but he showed me what God was like that day."
WATCH: Ruth Shares Her Prodigal Son Moment With Billy Graham
4. Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral - The True Billy
While this was Billy's funeral, there was an obvious effort to keep the focus on Jesus.
“Everyone who spoke was clear in their message. They honored his [Billy's] wishes by making this less about Billy and more about Jesus,” Southern Baptist pastor Jonathan Falwell, son of the late Jerry Falwell Sr., said.
Billy's obedience in serving the Lord is what's so admirable. It's how God was able to use him to do such amazing things.
"The Billy Graham that the world saw on television, the Billy Graham that the world saw in the big stadiums was the same Billy Graham that we saw at home. There weren't two Billy Grahams," Franklin said.
“He loved his family. . . He left us an enduring legacy: his uncompromising testimony of God’s great love.”
Looking at Billy's life, you can clearly see the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, faithfulness, self-control -- it was all there. He lived for God. And because he did so, death has no power over him. And Billy spent his earthly life trying to lead others to that kind of assurance. It was no different at his funeral.
"If this were your funeral, would you be in Heaven?" Franklin asked the crowd.
Franklin went on to honor his father by calling all attending or watching to repent and accept Jesus into their hearts, complete with the grace and forgiveness that comes with doing so. Because the Good News is proclaimed in John 3:16, a verse Franklin said his father included in just about every sermon he ever preached.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
WATCH: Franklin Graham Remembers His Father
5. Notable Moments From Billy Graham's Funeral - The Music
Billy wanted his death to point to Jesus, just like his life. Rather than mourn, Billy wanted his funeral to be a celebration. Billy's race is over and he is finally home!
"My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world." ~Billy Graham
RELATED: Musicians Thank Billy Graham In A Song Of Gratitude
And so, the songs Billy chose for his funeral give all glory to God, triumphing in the rewards that await Billy and all who give their souls to Jesus! Here are the 6 songs Billy selected:
1. "Until Then" (Stuart Hamblen, 1958) -- performed by Gospel singer Linda McCrary-Fisher
"My heart can sing when I pause to rememberA heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a path that's winding always upwardThis troubled world is not my final homeBut until then my heart will go on singingUntil then with joy I'll carry onUntil the day my eyes behold my SaviourUntil the day God calls me home"
4. “Because He Lives” (Bill and Gloria Gaither, 1970) -- performed by the Gaither Vocal Band
"God sent His son, they called Him JesusHe came to love, heal and forgiveHe lived and died to buy my pardonAn empty grave is there to prove my savior lives"
5. “To God Be the Glory” (Fanny Crosby/William Howard Doane, 1875) -- congregational singing led by Bledsoe
"To God be the glory, great things He hath done,So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,Who yielded His life our redemption to win,And opened the life-gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice;Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice;Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory; great things He hath done."
6. “Amazing Grace” -- bagpipe escort led by Pipe Major William Boetticher
"Amazing grace! How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me!I once was lost, but now am found;Was blind, but now I see."
This world will surely miss Billy Graham, but his legacy will live on. And after his 99-year journey of faith here on earth, we rejoice in knowing he is now at home with Jesus!
“My father preached on heaven, told millions how to find heaven, wrote a book on heaven, and now he’s in heaven. His journey is complete,” said Franklin Graham.
If you're interested in watching the full service, you can do so with the video below. Be sure to comment on Facebook with any notable moments from Billy Graham's funeral we may have missed!
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