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<\/source><\/picture>Pastor and author Tim Keller was remembered for his deep wisdom, passion for encouraging others to grow in their faith, and for living the life of an \u201cextraordinary servant\u201d whose greatest love was sharing the Gospel at his memorial service on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thousands from around the world gathered at St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral in New York City to honor Keller,<\/a> who passed away<\/a> at 72 on May 19 after a lengthy battle with cancer.\u00a0Keller served in pastoral ministry for four decades, including founding and pastoring Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. He also co-founded the church-planting network Redeemer City to City<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou may have noticed this isn\u2019t the usual sort of memorial service,\u201d Kathy Keller, the late pastor’s wife, told the 2,000 people gathered at the cathedral.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s because Tim wrote it himself, just the way he liked to do funerals for other people,\u201d she said. \u201cYou mention the dead person, certainly, but then you talk about the God that person is now facing. So, blame Tim if there aren’t videos and choirs and lengthy testimonials.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTim is buried in St. Michael\u2019s Cemetery … but that place is huge and you couldn\u2019t find the grave even if you tried,\u201d she said. \u201cBut please don\u2019t try, and here\u2019s why I don\u2019t want you to: you know those scenes in movies, like at the end of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ where someone has a heart-to-heart talk standing at the headstone of the deceased person? Tim and I were always uncomfortable with those because the person isn\u2019t actually there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTim is with Jesus \u2014 healed, loved, more alive, and happier than he has ever been,\u201d she said, keeping her tone conversational. \u201cHaving mentioned the headstone, I will tell you I\u2019ve been considering various Bible verses for it. … Let me tell you my favorite right now.\u201d<\/p>\n She read Isaiah 25:6\u20139 for \u201ccontext,\u201d before revealing Keller\u2019s headstone will feature Isaiah 26:1, 12 and 19, \u201cIn that day this song will be sung. … All that we have accomplished you have done for us. … Your dead will live, LORD, their bodies will rise. Let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIsaiah was speaking of a future reality, with no more death or tears,\u201d she said. \u201cTim is living in that reality now,\u201d she said. \u201cHow I yearn for all of us to trust the God he now worships face to face so that one day we may all sit down to that feast together.\u201d<\/p>\n Jonathan Keller remembered his father as an exceptional encourager, urging everyone to find encouragement from Keller\u2019s life legacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keller was a \u201cfundamentally a gifted encourager,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cLet\u2019s be encouraged, friends and family, even in our sadness, from the memory of his life, which is a testament to something greater and longer-lasting than we have here on Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n David Keller emotionally prayed, \u201cHeavenly Father, we are sad at the loss, but we take comfort in knowing dad is filled with joy. We ask you to meet us in our grief and remind us that your loving sacrifice on the cross and resurrection has conquered death, so that when you call us home we can joyfully say what he did, \u2018I\u2019m ready to see Jesus. Send me home.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n The service also featured readings from the Bible and excerpts from C. S. Lewis’ work, read by actor Max Mclean, hymns chosen by Keller, including \u201cThere is a Redeemer,\u201d \u201cImmortal, Invisible God Only Wise\u201d and a homily from Sam Allberry.<\/p>\n Alberry, a family friend of the Kellers, reminded attendees that the \u201cvery qualities we have loved in Tim are all reflections of what can be found so clearly in Christ.\u201d Using one of Tim\u2019s phrases, he said, \u201cJesus is the true and better Tim Keller.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to appreciate and understand Tim is to think about Christ,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTim was an extraordinary servant because he had let Jesus serve him,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was being served by Christ that enabled him to serve so many of the rest of us so beautifully. So will you let Jesus serve you? If you\u2019ve never done so, would you let Jesus serve you today, this afternoon, this very moment?\u201d<\/p>\n Scriptures were woven throughout the service, read by the pastors of the four Redeemer campuses. Each verse emphasized the promise of resurrection, including John 14, 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 4, Romans 8 and Mark 10.<\/p>\n Michael Keller, Tim’s middle son, concluded the service by encouraging everyone to find solace in the fact that through Christ, they are able to \u201cgrieve with hope.\u201d<\/p>\n He quoted D. L. Moody: \u201cSome day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don\u2019t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe world to come is brighter and better and more real,\u201d Michael Keller said. \u201cWe are going to see him again in the new world, so there is joy and grace and love and light forever more. Let that comfort you, let that sustain you in all things now and always.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to the thousands gathered at St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral, nearly 10,000 people from around the world watched the funeral livestream<\/a> broadcast by Redeemer City to City.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.christianpost.com\/images\/cache\/image\/15\/00\/150013_w_760_375.webp\")
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