Comfort for those who mourn
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Faith Fitness
Bro. Sam Kaufman
Does anyone know the shortest verse in the Bible? If you’re a Bible scholar, you probably already know.
Maybe you do a lot of Bible reading, but still aren’t aware that it is John 11:35.
When you hear the two words in that verse, you will know.
“Jesus wept.”
We won’t get into the specific reason Jesus wept here, because it could have been one of several reasons.
Physical death usually brings about tears from the loved ones of the person who died. That’s just natural.
For those who have had a family member die – or someone close to them pass – they can relate how difficult the sting of death can be.
Grieving and mourning is involved. But thanks be to God that we can live forever in heaven with God.
It was man’s original sin – see the Garden of Eden – that brought forth physical and spiritual death. After the woman and man partook of the forbidden fruit, sin entered the world. That’s why the Bible states, “The sting of death is sin.”
It was sin that caused death. After the fall, man was separated from God’s presence and began to die physically.
The first physical death was an animal’s bloodshed to provide coats of skin for Adam and Eve.
Jesus later came to destroy the works of the Devil. That came through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, which provided mankind spiritual restoration to God (if they are born again), though their physical bodies still die.
The first resurrection will actually result in the following description from I Corinthians 15:54: “So when this corruptible shall have put on corruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Obviously, the victory comes through Jesus Christ.
The following verses states, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:55-57)
Back to John 11, which addresses so much on this topic.
It is the chapter in which Jesus brings back Lazarus from the dead.
Obvious grieving occurred when Lazarus died. His two sisters heavily mourned their brother.
But even during what appeared to be the darkest moment, Jesus provided hope.
Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, were having a difficult time, which is understandable.
Many had come to try and comfort them. That is good because the support truly helps. But we can go to the One who created us and died for us to find even greater hope and comfort in those times.
Jesus came to Martha and Mary – and He will come to us in our grief.
But the two had a different reaction when they knew Jesus was heading their way.
One realized Jesus could provide help to her, while the other remained more distant in her mourning.
John 11:20 states, “Then Martha, as soon as she head that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.”
In our worst times, we can go to Jesus and He will make it better. Just hearing His Word and promises regarding life to those who believe will provide so much strength.
He always has the answers and what we need. Jesus came to give the abundant spiritual life that is the water springing up within us.
Just hearing Jesus speak the words of life provided comfort to Martha, who went out to meet Him. Martha knew that hearing from Jesus would help her. Mary, meanwhile, was perhaps paralyzed by her grief, sitting still in the house.
To those who mourn, they can get up and go to the Word of God to find strength.
Martha met Jesus and conversed with Him.
“Then said Martha unto Jesus, ‘Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou will ask of God, God will give it thee.’ Jesus saith unto her, ‘Thy brother shall rise again.’ Martha saith unto him, ‘I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?’” – John 11:21-26.
Martha then told Jesus that she believed He was the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. She then went her way and called Mary her sister, telling her Jesus was calling for her. Later in the chapter, Jesus called Lazarus out of the grave with a loud voice.
