The Blessed Mourners Series

The Blessed Mourners

Matthew 5:1-4

July 24, 2022

Have you ever read something in the Bible and as you were reading it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense? Sometimes the words of Jesus can be confusing. Sometimes we hear statements which don’t really make sense of ones we really just don’t like - - -

We are to love our enemies;

turn the other cheek;

walk a the mile for our enemy;

give up our jackets; OR

passages like Luke 19:26 where Jesus said - - -

26 to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. - Luke 19:26

And there’s moare as well. We’re in a series of messages which is focusing on the first part of Jesus’ first sermon, called the Beatitudes. It’s found in Matthew 5, and in the first verses we read - - -

1 Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2 And Jesus taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Today, we’re looking at this verse, verse 4.

Blessed are those who mourn. Have you ever seen a really happy or blessed mourner? And if someone’s excited about the prospects of mourning and grieving, we’d 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.

Many people tend to pity those who are grieving. We try to not look them in the eye, we send off a quick note or flowers, and we’re not sure what to say, so we often avoid the blessed mourners.

Yet, when we look at Jesus’ day, mourning and grief weren’t hushed and rushed! Mourners would literally tear their clothes, put on sackcloth, ashes and dirt on top of their heads. They would do this in the open, where everyone could see them. Friends gathered and stayed with them. They didn’t hide their sorrow, they lamented, cried and wailed.

Ever notice how controlled we are when we’re mourning and grieving? We tend to weep in quiet. We don’t want others to see us . . . and we often apologize for our tears and grief.

Why do we apologize? Why do we have to be so stoic? Why can’t we let it out? And it’s healthier when we let it out, than keeping it all bottled in.

So, what’s Jesus’ point in calling mourners blessed? When we think about mourning, we can talk about at least 3 basi types of mourning - - -

1. Mourning our losses;

2. Mourning for the losses of others; and

3. Mourning our sinfulness.

I believe there’s value in all 3 of these. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they don’t know what they would do without their faith when grieving.

We see this in Isaiah 41 - - -

10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

That’s a passage which brings us so much comfort because we trust God is with us. We don’t have to fear, we don’t have to be bewildered, all because God is the One who strengthens us. He holds us.

In Psalm 23:4, David tells us -

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. - Psalm 23:4

Again, it’s the promise of God’s presence in our difficult moments of life. The declaration I AM WITH YOU! Ahh! That’s comforting.

And Jesus tells us - - -

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

The promise of a blessed rest in Jesus. We can talk about many passages which remind of us of the promise that God will be with us, through the good and the not so good.

As we grow in faith we also come to believe that even when we don’t like what is happening, when we don’t necessarily like God’s plan, we can still count on God. We trust and believe that God has a plan which is bigger and better than our plan, but just not the same. We see that in Isaiah 55 - - -

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.