Blessed are those that Mourn.. for they will be comforted...
How many here have mourned? I don't know anyone who hasn't had an experience of mourning. Even the kids upstairs. It's a fact of life. And as I prepared for this message, I wanted to see what the actual definition of mourning was. We're all familiar of how it surrounds death, but it goes a little bit farther than that.
To mourn is
to feel or express sorrow or grief.
to grieve or lament for the dead.
to show the conventional or usual signs of sorrow over a person's death.
In today's culture.. everyone is looking for ways to be happy. It was written in the declaration of independence about a God given right to pursue happiness. When you look everywhere, the pursuit is forgotten about and the right to be happy is being sold on street corners, news stands, and infomercials. Send money to some guy covered in question marks and you're going to be happy. You will live in comfort. Get rich quick and everything will be fine.
If happiness was really a God given right, would we all feel short changed currently? When we look at the definition of mourning, sorrow.. grief.. even regrets. I've been feeling sorrow for some of the choices in my life. The loss of my marriage and music career. Sure it was five years ago, but it's an event that took a piece of my life away. Some people in different churches have told me, “you can't mourn over things. Praise God in all things. Be happy, God's gonna take care of you.”
this is all good advice, but not entirely healthy. Yes.. we should always praise God in in the good times AND the bad times. But Jesus says it's ok to mourn. In fact, if we're familiar with the life of Christ.. we'll remember that His good friend lazarus died.
Jesus Christ is GOD.. that is a fact that we all agree on, or I hope. And if we don't.. I hope you can find agreeance with us soon. But the fact is, in John 11:35 Jesus Wept.
Lazarus was dead. The people were mourning. And JESUS who knew that in just 3 minutes, lazarus would be exiting the tomb, raised from the dead, and all glory to God.. was weeping. God almighty felt compassion and sorrow for the people and for His friend. And yes.. God made things better when He said “lazarus.. come forward”..
Mourning isn't a sign of a lack of faith. But a sign of brokeness and lost control.
Ever notice that when something tragic happens, a death, a loss, a breakup, our instinct is to change something.. our regular routines aren't the same at that point and we need to do something to feel in control. Some people go about trying to run from reality through drugs or alcohol. Others try to change an aspect in their life.
Throughout the old testament, when israel lost a battle, or someone died, the people would fast. This was because whatever the tragedy, it has disrupted life as we know it. What is the basic necessity for life? Food. And one of the best ways to get in tune with God is through prayer and fasting.
When we mourn, we have decisions to make. Let God comfort us, or run into the arms of satan. Yes, some people let their lives fall to pieces through tragedy. Others take steps to make things better. So that the same loss or regret isn't experienced. About 6 years ago, when I was in my band, I had a friend. He was younger than me. His name was Jeff. I was his boss at office depot, and he was a good kid that made bad decisions. He drank way too much for a 19 year old. One night he called me and woke me up at 3am.. he was drunk as a skunk and saying some really hurtful stuff. I hung up and turned my phone off. Never really talked to him for a few months, and I felt bad. I missed him. He was like a little brother to me, tho I never told him. It was may 22nd when I received a phone call and booked a show to open for a rather popular band.. and it was going to be in detroit. We never played detroit. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to call Jeff and invite him to a show. He'd wanted to see us and this was local. Instead of calling him right then, inviting him to the show and burying the hatchet, I said “nah, i'll just call him tomorrow after work.”
the next morning I got a phone call at work from a friend. Jeff died that morning. 19 year old kid never gonna see his 20th birthday. And I never got the chance to tell him what he meant. I've grieved over this for 5 years.. this is probably the first time i've told the story without breaking down in tears. I've finally let go of the grief and mourning.. because I made a decision afterward.. I would never hold back from telling someone what they mean to me. I would never hold back my emotions. For the most part, it's been successful. I've relied on God numerous times to let me do this, and it has comforted me.
Something similar happened in the bible.
John 18:25-27
Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”
He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?” 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Can you imagine the sorrow and grief peter felt after denying his relationship with Jesus.. not once, but THREE times? I'm sure he must have mourned because of his poor decision. How can anyone be comforted through this?
After the resurrection, Jesus met with Peter and some of the other disciples on the shore, while they were fishing.
John 21:15-17
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Jesus comforted Peter by reinstating him into the fold. His denial had surely made him feel distant from everyone, and through Christ's love, he was reconciled. Comforted... and how comforted would he be a few days later when the day of pentecost came.
Who was it that preached the truth of Christ and converted 5,000 people into Christ's kingdom? Peter... how comforting is that? Even when our lives are turned upside down and we lose track of what we stand for.. God can STILL restore us to an effectual relationship with Him.
{selection deleted because it was church specific}
Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to dance.. and a time to mourn..
John 14:1 states Do not let your heart be troubled.. believe in God.. and believe also in Jesus.
When we mourn.. we learn who our true friends are. The ones that come to comfort. The ones that make sure our lives are provided for, during the rough parts. We have an amazing friend in Jesus.. and amazing friends in each other.
