“...going to the cemetery today to bury my mom... :( Lord, please hold me!”
Oh, Michele… my heart and my prayers reach out to you. I just lost my younger brother on April 10th, so I can relate to your loss. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we know that Jesus saves us… and through Him we have eternal life. In John 11:1-44, Jesus reassures us about the life we have in Him as he raises Lazarus from the grave. It seems, though, that most of us are like Martha, and we don’t fully grasp what Jesus is saying to us either, when (in verses 25-26):
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?””
But as human beings, and very much like Mary and Martha, we also feel the pain and the grief of separation when a loved one dies. Jesus knows this about us, too. And sharing our life with us, sharing our joys and our sorrows, he shares our grief, as well. Jesus was so moved by the grief of Mary and Martha over the death of their brother Lazarus, that in verse 35,
“Jesus wept.”
It’s natural for us to weep over a loss. To those of us who continue living, the death of a loved one is a great sorrow… if only for the immediate earthly separation that occurs. Knowing that Jesus is there to bear the brunt of your grief (if you let Him) is a source of great comfort and strength during a trying time. We know that by believing in Him, Jesus will raise us like Lazarus from the dead, too. More than that, in verse 40, Jesus also promises us an everlasting relationship with God (heaven, if you will), when he says:
“Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
It was tough for Mary and Martha to bury their beloved brother, Lazarus. It’s just as tough for us to bury anyone we love dearly. It was hard for Mary and Martha, standing at the grave, to see Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Is it any easier for us, as we stand at a graveside?
Who is important in your life? Who do you want to live, and NOT die? Who will come to Jesus after experiencing YOUR belief in Jesus? We are human, and therefore not perfect, so we weep at our losses, we get angry that God didn’t save our loved one, we accuse God; Mary and Martha sure did! You and I probably will, too. As we follow Christ, we still struggle with all those things, but in constantly turning toward Jesus, we believe, we love, and we rejoice… in the life we live in Jesus!
Your brother in Christ,
Dave
Diehl *knew* he was going home! In the longrun that made it easier to rejoice. Michelle's prayer, "Lord, please hold me!" shows such faith. So many people just turn away, or turn into themselves, or ask why. I went to a funeral last week of a 17-month-old boy who never left the hospital after he was born until he died. His parents are believers, I just hope and pray they turn as Michelle did, together, and let the Lord hold them, and that they hold each other. I have seen other couples completely unable to accept the death of their child and turn away from each other and from God.
ReplyDeleteUntil He comes again, death is part of life. And life is not all about us (me) but about loving and serving our Creator and enjoying Him forever, for His glory. A person whose foundation is in the love of Christ and his sacrifice for sin shall stand and not be moved!