October 12, 2008
The Blessed Mourners
Matthew 5:1-4
Have you ever read something that as you were reading it, just didn’t make a whole lot of sense? Sometimes when we read the Bible, we may find ourselves struggling to make sense out of the words of Jesus. He tells us things which either don’t make sense, or which we just don’t like - -
he tells us to love our enemies;
to turn the other cheek;
to walk an the mile for our enemy;
If you don’t use it, you will lose it . . . and on and on He goes on. But when we read the Beatitudes, we get more confused, like with today’s scripture. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Blessed are the mourners. Have you ever seen a really happy and excited mourner? I don’t think so. And if someone is excited about the prospects of mourning and grieving, we would question their sanity. So, as we continue talking about the Beatitudes, these counter-intuitive, backwards ways of looking at life, let’s look at what Jesus means when He talks about the blessed mourners.
When we think about people who are grieving, we pity them. We try to not look them in the eye, we send off a quick note, send flowers; but we are not sure what to say, so we often avoid the blessed mourners.
Yet, when we look at Jesus’ day, mourning wasn’t so hushed and contained; and it wasn’t rushed. Mourners would literally tear their clothes, put on sackcloth and put ashes and dirt on top of their heads. They would do this right out in the open, where everyone could see them. Nobody tried to go to work, or to stay busy. Friends gathered, and lingered over their grief. Those grieving didn’t hide their sorrow, they lamented and cried and wailed.
Ever notice how controlled we try to be when we are mourning and grieving? We tend to weep in quiet. We don’t want anyone to see us at our blessed best . . . or I mean worst . . . or well, what is it when we mourn? Is it good, bad, or is it plain too ugly that we scare others away. And why do we apologize when a few tears come to our eyes. Why can’t we let it out? Actually, it’s healthier when we let it out, then keep it all bottled in and act real stoic like.
So, what is Jesus’ point in calling mourners blessed? When we think about mourning, we can talk about three basic types of mourning, and I’m sure we could come up with more. The three main types are ~
1. Mourning our losses;
2. Mourning for the losses of others; and
3. Mourning our sinfulness.
This morning we are going to focus on that last one, mourning our sinfulness.
But what does it mean to MOURN? Jesus is using a very strong word in the Greek to describe those who mourn. It is a word which is literally used to describe those who are mourning and grieving for the dead, or the passionate lament for someone who was deeply loved.
Then the word for comfort is also a strong one. It is the same word Jesus used when He told the disciples that He was leaving and He would send another one in His place. The one who would be sent is the Holy Spirit, who was called, the comforter, by Jesus, and it means “one who will walk alongside, or one who is called to the side of another.”
The image is of a person who has been called to come to our side, to be with us in our time of need. Even the word comfort is a strong word, since the root is fortis, which means strong or strength. So, when someone comes to us in our time of need to walk alongside us, they come to give us strength. Too often, we think of comfort as a cuddly blanket we wrap ourselves in, however, that is not how comfort is portrayed in the Bible. It is an image of someone coming to us with a transfusion of strength.
I have been hurt by people, whether as a pastor or as a friend. There have been times when people have told me what they did to me, yet, they didn’t and couldn’t apologize. You know what I mean? They can admit it, but they don’t even see it in themselves. More often than not, pride that gets in the way of someone who is incapable of saying, “please forgive me; I was wrong,” or the six most important words according to my dad, “I admit I made a mistake.” There are some who keep themselves in prison because they cannot release themselves from their guilt. People like that end up pretty unhappy, because there are so many guilts that weigh them down that they build their own prisons.
It’s a prison of pride. And the prison of pride is filled with self-made men and women who are determined to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Even if pulling themselves up leads them to fall on their backside. It doesn’t matter what they did or who they did it to or where they end up, what matters is that they did it “their way.”
We’ve all been around those prisoners. It’s the alcoholic who refuses to admit they have a problem. It’s anyone who has an addictions issue, who looks you in the eye and says, “I can stop anytime I want.” It’s the person who is afraid to talk about their fears, lest anyone laugh and think they’re ridiculous. It’s the person who refuses help when their life is falling apart, whether at home, at work . . . or anywhere. Sometimes we just have to take a good, long and real look in the mirror and see our true selves.
This should lead us to confess our sinfulness. But confessing isn’t easy, and that is why when John wrote 1 John 1:9, he started with the key word . . . IF. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Who wants to admit their sinfulness? Because when we confess, in essence we’re admitting failure, or a shortcoming in some part of our lives. It’s hard for our pride to let go of that. Yet, what John offers us is so huge. It is so relieving, so freeing, and in fact should lead us to cry and weep like babies at the feet of a God who is so grace-filled that He would give us this offer.
Notice what John said, “IF we confess our sins, God / Jesus, is faithful, but not only is He faithful, He is just, and in His faithfulness and justice, He is not going to rip into us and beat us down, instead, His great desire is to forgive us, to release us from the burden of carrying our sin and pride to the grave. Then on top of all that, Jesus says, not only are you forgiven, but now I’m going to give you a bath. It’s going to be that spiritual bath which is going to cleanse you, it’s going to take all of the dirt off of you, and in God’s eyes, you will be perfectly cleansed, you will be whiter than snow. That is the offer from God. He desires to release each one of us.
You see, when we repent, when we admit our sinfulness, our mistakes, our wrong doing, we are able to weep over our sinfulness, we can do it with another trusted friend, or the person we have wronged and we find this great release, which leads us to feel blessed. Then we also have the added benefit of finding our sins washed away by God, who loves us so much that He sent His Son to live and die for us. And we weep over the gift of mercy, the grace, the hope that God offers us. It can be overwhelming. It’s not just for those coming to faith in Christ, it’s for those who have been believers in Jesus for a lifetime, because we all fall short of the glory of God, but through the grace of God each one of us has the opportunity to find forgiveness and comfort from the God of all creation; the God who created you and me.
Max Lucado wrote,
As long as Jesus is one of many options, He is no option. As long as you can carry your burdens alone, you don’t need a burden bearer. As long as your situation brings you no grief, you will receive no comfort. And as long as you can take Him or leave Him, you might as well leave Him, because He won’t be taken half-heartedly.
But when you mourn, when you get to the point of sorrow for your sins, when you admit that you have no other option but to cast all your cares on Him, and when there is truly no other name that you can call, then cast all your cares on Him, for He is waiting in the midst of the storm.
One of the joys I have received as a parent is the ability to attempt to comfort my children when they are hurting. Whether or not their wounds were self-inflicted from a bicycle accident, a skate board fall or getting blind-sided in a football; or if someone made one of those nasty, mean comments which hurt their heart and spirit; or if they have been misunderstood . . . none of it matters when they come into your arms and you hold them. And when they’re in my arms, I want them to know they are safe, I’m there, I love you, I will protect you, I will even die for you, if need be.
I don’t view myself as anyone special because of this, I believe any good natured parent would do this. We aren’t superstars or heroes to the world, except on those occasions to our kids. And it could be a grandparent, aunt, uncle . . . anyone who can show love, acceptance and comfort to another person.
Yet, in the midst of this wonderful and joyful comfort we can give our children, and one another, what I don’t get is this ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ WHY AM I . . . WHY ARE WE SO RELUCTANT TO LET OUR HEAVENLY FATHER COMFORT US?
Why do I think He wouldn’t want to hear about my problems?
I rationalize they are small in comparison to world hunger.
Why do I think He’s too busy for me?
He’s got the whole universe to look out for.
Why do I think He groans and hides when He hears me coming?
Why do I think He keeps a list of my forgiveness requests?
Do I really believe I’ve over-asked on the forgiveness front?
Why do I think I have to speak in some holy Christianese to get His attention?
After all, I don’t talk that way with anyone else.
Do I think He was just joking when He asked me if the birds are worried about their next meal? Or if He knows how many hairs are on my head?
Nope, He knows it all.
Why is it that when He tells us to come to Him, and He will give us peace, He will comfort us in our grief-laden moments, yet . . . we somehow balk at that moment.
Why don’t we let our Heavenly Father do for us, His children, what we would do for our children?
So that when we are criticized, injured, or afraid, There is a Father ~
. . . who is ready to comfort us
. . . who will hold us until we are better,
. . . who will walk with us until we can live with the hurt;
. . . who will not go to sleep when we’re afraid of the dark;
. . . who will love us, even when we feel unlovable;
. . . who sent His Spirit to be with us . . . His Spirit, the Spirit of God for you and for me; and
. . . who is very, very real, who believes in you and me - who believes in us enough that He sent His Son to bring us grace, peace, forgiveness and hope . . . which never ends.
God wants us to be blessed mourners, so that we would allow Him to wrap His arms of love around us. And when God does that, we not only find healing, we find power and strength and victory.
So even as we grieve over the losses of this life and the losses yet to come,
we have the One true God loving and comforting us.
We can be blessed mourners because it is God who comforts us.
Enter God’s Kingdom and experience His comfort.
