Blessed are those who mourn
This morning I officiated the funeral of Logan Mentzer, younger brother of Dane and Bethany Mentzer who were in my youth group. Having known Logan it wasn’t the easiest thing to do. Interesting enough, the Sunday before finding out about Logan’s death I had taught at church on the 2nd Beatitude: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” — Matthew 5:4
Today I saw a lot of mourning, a lot of hurt. Though people were doing their best at the act of comforting toward the family and one another, comfort in and of itself hadn’t kicked in yet. Probably won’t for a bit. But it’s in moments like today that we can’t misunderstand this Beatitude.
Matthew 5:4 isn’t a statement saying to deny your emotions or downgrade them and it isn’t God saying “Abracadabra,” making them all vanish like they weren’t there. When finding out about the death of his friend Lazarus, the shortest verse in the Bible tells us that, “Jesus wept.” Not a sniffle. Water works. Strongest man in the existence of humanity, creator God on earth, weeping at the loss of his friend. Emotions are not just a reality they are a necessity. “Blessed are those who mourn…” isn’t telling us to ignore emotions, if anything it is sending an invitation to experience them fully.
The second beatitude is an announcement of the life Jesus is offering, one where true comfort is real. Where peace and hope are present and accounted for, not wishful thinking. Comfort in what? Comfort in knowing that Jesus conquered death and provides a new life that can never be defeated by death. Comfort in knowing that because of Jesus loved ones will be rejoined and this is not the end. Such is only possible in Jesus and it is that hope which carries someone through the difficult storms of a day like today. Without Him then a funeral is truly the end. Comfort is knowing there is a genuine tomorrow. Comfort is knowing we aren’t stuck in winter. Spring will come. Restoration is guaranteed.
“When before the throne we stand in Him complete, all the riddles that puzzle us here will fall into place and we shall know in fullfillment what we now believe in faith — that all things work together for good in His eternal purpose. No longer will we cry “My God, why?” Instead, “alas” will become “Alleluia,” all question marks will be straightened into exclamation points, sorrow will change to singing, and pain will be lost in praise.” — Vance Havner
Prayers for the Mentzer family: Carl & Christine, Jan, Dane & Nikki, Bethany, Haley and Mariah.
