INTRODUCTION
A pastor once asked children in Sunday School,
“What do you think God does when you cry?”
Some said, “He listens.”
Some said, “He holds us.”
One little boy said,
“I think God cries too… but His tears heal people.”
Church… there is more truth in that child’s words than many realize.
Tonight, Jesus says:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
— Matthew 5:4 (NKJV)
The world hears that and thinks,
“How can being sad be blessed?”
But Jesus looks at mourning differently.
He sees not just the pain,
but the promise:
Those who mourn… will be comforted.
And in this Lenten season, as we walk toward the cross,
we are reminded that Jesus understands sorrow—He carried it.
1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MOURN?
Mourning is not just sadness.
Mourning is deep grief…
the kind of sorrow that reaches the soul.
We mourn when:
• Someone we love is gone
• Life breaks in ways we didn’t expect
• Sin has wounded us or others
• Our own failures weigh our hearts
• The world’s brokenness overwhelms us
Mourning is the evidence that our hearts can still feel.
The Psalmist cried:
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart…”
— Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
Your sorrow doesn’t push God away—
your sorrow draws Him close.
2. WHY DOES JESUS CALL MOURNERS “BLESSED”?
A. Because Mourning Opens the Heart to God’s Presence
A proud heart pushes God away.
A broken heart lets Him in.
B. Because Grief Is a Sacred Place
In the place where we cry,
God whispers.
C. Because Comfort Can Only Be Given to Those Willing to Receive It
A person who never admits pain
never receives healing.
Jesus says those who mourn are blessed because:
they are not pretending… not hiding… not numbing… but bringing their hearts to God.
3. THE PROMISE: “THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED”
God does not offer maybe,
He offers shall.
Comfort is guaranteed.
It may not come in the moment we want…
but it always comes in the way we need.
The comfort God gives is not:
• A band-aid
• A quick fix
• A cliché
• A pat on the back
It is heaven’s comfort.
Jesus called the Holy Spirit:
“the Comforter” — John 14:26 (NKJV)
God comforts by:
• Holding us
• Strengthening us
• Healing us
• Speaking to us
• Carrying us
• Restoring us
• Lifting us up
• Staying with us
His comfort is not temporary—
it is transforming.
4. HOW JESUS MEETS US IN OUR MOURNING
1. He Weeps With Us
At Lazarus’ tomb:
“Jesus wept.” — John 11:35 (NKJV)
He doesn’t just dry our tears—
He shares them.
2. He Walks With Us Through the Valley
“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… You are with me.”
— Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)
Jesus never sends us into sorrow alone.
3. He Turns Mourning Into Joy
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
— Psalm 30:5 (NKJV)
God promises not just to comfort us—
but to transform us.
5. MOURNING IN A BROKEN WORLD
Tonight, with many churches joined together,
we acknowledge that across our congregations:
Someone is grieving a loved one.
Someone is hurting from a broken relationship.
Someone is carrying guilt from the past.
Someone is afraid of the future.
Someone is mourning the state of our nation.
Someone is mourning the sin in their own life.
Mourning is not a sign of weakness—
it’s a sign of being human…
a sign that your heart is still soft…
a sign that God is still working.
6. HOW DO WE RESPOND TO MOURNING WITH MERCY AND UNITY?
This evening—many traditions, many backgrounds—
but mourning brings us all to the same place:
The foot of the cross.
A. We Grieve WITH One Another
“Bear one another’s burdens…” — Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
B. We Refuse to Judge Another’s Pain
Everyone carries a story we cannot see.
C. We Offer Comfort Because God First Comforted Us
We love…
we listen…
we hold…
we pray.
Mercy moves us toward each other.
Comfort strengthens unity.
Compassion heals communities.
When the churches stand together,
the world sees Christ.
7. LENT AND THE MAN OF SORROWS
Lent brings us close to the One Scripture calls:
“A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”
— Isaiah 53:3 (NKJV)
Jesus was not unfamiliar with pain—
He entered it.
He carried it.
He conquered it.
He cried.
He mourned.
He grieved.
But He rose.
And because He lives,
mourning does not have the final word.
CLOSING CALL – THE GOD WHO COMFORTS
If your heart is heavy tonight—
God sees you.
If you are mourning something quietly—
God hears you.
If you are carrying a sorrow nobody else knows—
God understands you.
And Jesus promises:
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Not might…
not could…
not hopefully…
Shall.
Comfort is coming.
Comfort is here.
Comfort has a name—
Jesus.
May His comfort fill this place,
touch every heart,
heal every wound,
and unite us as one family under His cross.
Amen.
