Good Grief
Matthew 5.4
The beatitudes turn preconceived notions upside down. Of course Jesus has a way of doing that. He turns things upside down to make them right side up A graphic illustration of this is the tables of the money changers and those selling doves in the temple. Jesus came and cleaned house literally. It was Passover Week. Preparations including getting rid of all the leaven/yeast in the house. It was a time of spring cleaning of sorts. Jesus came and cleansed the temple His Father’s House. He upset everything that was wrong. He turned the table upside down.
Jesus told His disciples that greater works they would do because He was going to the Father. By the time we get to Acts 17.6 we see the assessment of ministry of Paul, the apostle and his traveling party... these are the men who have turned the world upside down.
Jesus turns things upside down.
Mourning, sorrowing and lamenting always appeared to be a bad thing. It was something that made others have pity on those going through it.
Jesus pronounced a blessing on it.
A blessing on mourning, sorrowing, lamenting? Yes
1. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed Because They Inherit Promises God Gave.
Psalm 34. 18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147.3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 23.4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for You are with me. Your Rod and Your staff they comfort me.
There are some promises that do not mean as much until we have mourned. When we sorrow these promises come to us and we find strength from them. Before we believed they were true, but having experienced them they become more meaningful to us personally and so does the LORD He keeps His Word. He is faithful to all His Promises.
We find we are not alone in our mourning. He is with us. He is the Resurrection and the Life. There is something about God that you will not know until death comes to someone you love. He is not pronouncing a blessing on the mourning but on those going through it- on the mourners themselves.
2. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed because They Are on the Way to Heaven.
Someone said that all these promises have to with life on earth and the rewards we will get in heaven for such a life on earth. I believe that we receive a partial payment here on earth. There is joy on the journey to heaven
However that joy will be fulfilled when we get home. When we all see Jesus what a day of rejoicing that will be.
Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4.17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
This idea of fixing our eyes on what is eternal is an activity we do on the way to heaven. There are questions we can’t find answers for as we journey but we have the Presence of the LORD with us to comfort us. We know we are going to where He is. We know when we see Him face to face all answers will be given. We’ll know the answers to the questions of “Why?”
The Way- Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth and the Life when He was asked about the way tot he place He was going the night before He died. There is joy in following Him- even through the Valley of the shadow of Death
3. Those Who Are Mourning are Blessed because Know they will be Comforted.
Ultimately
Here on earth:
Comforted: Parakletos
to call to one's side, call for, summon
to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
to admonish, to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort
to instruct, teach
II Corinthians 1.3-11
When we have been comforted by God then we are able to comfort others.
We find healing in that ministry. We find hope there. We have received hope. We are passing it on.
This is not just an information exchange. It is much more than that. It is heart to heart. It is your heart speaking to another heart. It is listening to a person’s experience and knowing what they are talking about.
When Jesus rose from the dead He conquered death. His power within us (that same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead Romans 8.11) enables us to take authority over things that once held people and kept them down.
This is not say that death does not have a sting. It is our last enemy but it still an enemy Sometimes that sting is deep for those left. That is one of the points of this beatitude. But when we walk with the LORD, He is with us in the valley of the shadow of death. He gives us strength to face each day. (Deuteronomy 33.25) He gives us songs in the night. (Job 35.10) He is with us all along.
And while we may experience some very high moments on this earth, heaven is ahead and is not here on earth. If you are looking for heaven on earth stop Begin looking for what is ahead in eternity. Don’t look for high moments to satisfy you You will never have enough. Enjoy them as gifts from God but find fulfillment in obeying Jesus, even when you are mourning Serving Him, loving Him, following Him is a rewarding experience in itself.
The ultimate and permanent comfort is beyond the blue. It is beyond the sunset. It is with Jesus in the land where there is no night
As believers when we mourn we know we will be comforted one day. We believe these promises about heaven:
Revelation 21.4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
I Thessalonians 4.13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
We will be comforted
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