Grief and the Hope of Glory

Grief is defined as the intense sorrow especially caused by someone’s death. Grief is synonymous with sorrow, misery sadness or even pain.

The loss of a loved one is not easy, it brings with it a heap of complicated emotions. It often leaves one feeling alone, but this is something that is experienced by all. Greif is universal, it is felt by the rich, the poor, the young and the old. Because of this, we are all supposed to have empathy on our brothers and sisters going through it.

The bible is full of verses that speak about loss and verses that give comfort to those who have lost. As Christians the bible explains how we are supposed to approach the death of a loved one.

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those that have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Ecclesiastes 3:2 says that there is a time to be born, and a time to die. We will all die and if we are fortunate enough, there will be people who will grieve over us. People who loved us so dearly that in that moment it seems inconceivable to live in a world where we do not exist. Oh to be loved like this.

Jesus had a friend named Lazarus in the book of John chapter 11. When He received the news of Lazarus’ death, He proceeded to tell His disciples that they would be returning to Judea. A country where the Jews sought to kill Him. But to save His friend he was willing to face any consequence that might befall Him. In verse 16 Thomas says something quite interesting after seeing that Jesus was willing to risk His safety for Lazarus. “… Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” Thomas makes it clear that if Jesus were to die on this mission of love, they would die right along with Him. They were willing to die with Christ not knowing that Christ would die for them. But that is something for another day.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:3

The shortest verse in the bible but one of the most profound is “Jesus wept.” John 11:35. Jesus felt grief over the death of His friend Lazarus, He felt “groaning in Himself” because His friend was no longer amongst the living.

But Christ being the victor over death, grieved with hope and knowledge that He would see His friend again. Even we are supposed to grieve with this hope of glory as Christ did. We are supposed to feel our emotions – for a time – and come to the conclusion that death cannot hold our loved ones that die in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

The last illustration comes from the book of Matthew 27:45 & 51-52. When Christ was to die on the cross, the earth was covered in darkness, the sun refused to bear witness to the death of the King on a cross. This darkness lasted 3 hours, the earth quaked and the veil in the place where the Shekinah of God dwelt was torn in half. If that was not the Fathers grief over the death of His Son, what was it?

Grief is the last act of love we give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief there was deep love.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have all passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Death will never be easy; it will never not make us pause and think about all the things we won’t get to do. The memories we won’t get to create or even the love we won’t get to feel. It will lay heavy on our shoulders and press down on our hearts but let us remember that there is nothing we have felt and will feel, that Christ has not felt before. This qualifies Him to be our comfort through this difficult season. Our sorrow will one day turn to joy. “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” John 16:22

“It was C.S. Lewis who said, ‘Christians never say goodbye; they only say, ‘Au revoir’, be seeing you. Death cannot separate us from Christ, and so it cannot separate us from one another. Soon enough we will see them again, and that will be a merry meeting.”