For Those Who Mourn

[hillsbororiver]

Good morning Brothers and Sisters,

I don't believe there is a pain more intense than losing a loved one, I say this as someone who first experienced this separation at a very young age. I was 9 when my sister died and 12 when my brother passed away... There were 2 very, very dear friends who also were taken before I reached the ripe old age of 17.

Of course now that I am well into middle age there have been many more that I miss, both parents and virtually all my aunts and uncles as well as too many very dear friends... 

It was horrible, for me (and my family, and everyone who loved them), but it was/is not horrible for those who are now "sleeping."

My prayers go out for all those alive who are mourning the loss of a family member or dear friend, because it is us who are suffering, they are not!

Take comfort in how our Lord sees and feels this distressing part of our life (and death) experience;

John 11

1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

7Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

8His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

9Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

10But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.

34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35Jesus wept.

36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

37And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

45Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

You see that Jesus did not groan or weep for Lazarus, he wept for the mourners, they are the ones suffering the pain.

Matt 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

I pray for the Spirit of our Lord to comfort all who are troubled and saddened by the loss of a loved one.

Peace,

Joe

P.S. The following article really is comforting to contemplate (as you all well know).

http://bible-truths.com/death.htm

[Linny]

Thank you for that Joe. 

[bluzman]

Amen to that.
Thank you Joe, Bluzman

[hillsbororiver]

Hi Linny & Bluzman,

This is a subject that is a basic core of my life experience, ironically the best and also the worst of my deeds (looking back) stem from extreme grief...

Of course I realize God has deemed this to be a necessary part of our journey (dealing with this horrific separation) but we still grieve, we still feel that temporal yet presently insurmountable void but I truly find it is a wondrous, beautiful thing that our Lord had such an empathy for us that He shed tears as He contemplated our pain and suffering in regard to this experience.

He is our Hope and our Comforter... 

His Peace to you,

Joe 

[cjwood]

... it is a wondrous, beautiful thing that our Lord had such an empathy for us that He shed tears as He contemplated our pain and suffering in regard to this experience.

He is our Hope and our Comforter... 

and His peace to you also joe.  thank you for those beautiful scriptural reminders that there is nothing we go through that He has not already experienced.  He indeed is our Hope and our Comforter!

claudia