Blessed—Happy—Are Mourners

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, NKJV)

Mourning for the dead was, as we might say, a “big” business for some in the time period when Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. It was a common custom when death visited a household for the family to actually hire professional mourners who came to cry, mourn, sob, wail and make great lamentation at the wake and burial of the one who had died. We see mourning practices later in the gospel account of Lazarus’ death (see John 11). When Jesus arrived late, even after Lazarus had been buried four days, there were still mourners in the home of Mary and Martha. Funeral processions in the streets of Jewish towns often had a crowd following, mourning and lamenting. The Pharisees believed in life after death, but the Sadducees believed that death was the end and there was no resurrection.

For Jesus to say “Blessed (happy) are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” was a paradox, indeed. But for the Christian, sorrowing for a Christian family member or fried who has died can truly be happy. Death sometimes is a release from this life of suffering or grave illness. Death can therefore bring a sense of relief. The thought of reunion and resurrection brings happiness. Who would wish the beloved departed to return to a life of suffering? Therefore, “Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Jesus’ disciples would have been familiar with the Shepherd Psalm (23) with its words of comfort: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Ps. 23:4). And think of the values to the Christian of having a burden-bearer, the Lord, during the time of separation and mourning: the one who bears sorrow graciously grows in patience; to help bear the sorrows of family and friends one grows in sympathy and the ability to feel for others; and in this process of mourning, one also grows more Christ-like. “Happy are those who mourn.” Think again of Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus before He called his friend forth from the dead: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). A great promise for Christians is found in Revelation 7:17: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” In each of the Beatitudes, Jesus was describing God’s kingdom citizen. And even mourning (for death, for the sinner, whatever the cause of mourning), happy is the person who mourns, for God comforts him! Eugene Peterson in The Message Bible states Matthew 5:4: “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” Praise be to God for His comfort in our periods of mourning!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, September 13, 2010