Hope in Grief

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with a friend whose family has been rocked by the sudden death of a loved one.  She shared with me how the brother of the deceased is struggling to cope.  He holds his emotions together only to crater under the strain of grief.  My heart breaks as I hear of this family's pain and I feel helpless, wanting more than anything to take it away.

Where can we go when death is standing over us like a dark shadow?  We must turn to Jesus.  He is our Comforter and Hope.  Jesus is well acquainted with grief.  He stood at the tomb of his good friend, Lazarus.  He listened to the cries of Lazarus' sisters, "Jesus, if you had been here, this wouldn't have happened."  Have you ever said that to Jesus? 

What was Jesus' response to this grieving family?  The shortest verse in all of scripture - John 11:35, "Jesus wept."  Jesus loved this family and cried with them.  Was Jesus crying because it was a hopeless situation?  No.  Was he crying because he was helpless to do anything about it?  No.  He cried because death was never in God's plan.  When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden, the world was perfect.  Death didn't exist until man sinned.  It broke God's heart then and it breaks His heart now.

Jesus wept because he loves his people so much.  He hates to see us suffer.  When we cry, he cries.  Shortly after crying with his friends, he went on to raise Lazarus from the dead.  Wow, now that's a pretty good response to grief!  If only Jesus would come and raise all of our loved ones from the dead.  Why doesn't he?

He raised Lazarus from the dead to show that only HE (Jesus) has power over death.  Nothing and no one in all the world is stronger than death - except Jesus!  He gave his life that we could cheat death.  Jesus brings eternal life to those who trust in him. 

Friends, between you and me, when it's my time to go, I don't want to be brought back to this decrepit world.  I want Jesus to raise me up to heaven.  I want to be alive with him for all of eternity in a world without sin. 

I'm happy for Lazarus' sisters that they got to see Lazarus again this side of heaven.  But the point of the story does not end with a resurrection barbeque in Lazarus' backyard.  The real party happens when Jesus welcomes us home to heaven.  He brings life eternal to all of us who will call upon his name. 

Are you grieving today?  Know that Jesus grieves with you.  Are you angry at death?  Jesus is too.  Do you feel helpless?  You are.  But Jesus isn't.  He has conquered death.  Friends, let Jesus comfort us as no one else can.  Let us turn to the only one who can do something about death.  Like Lazarus' sisters, let's call upon Jesus.