Friday, January 4

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Matthew 2:16-18

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and it’s vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

“A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

In the three days following Christmas we had two funerals at FBCG. One was for an 18 year old young man who suffered a tragic accident just before Christmas. The other was for a 92 year old man who lived a long and blessed life.

As a pastor I have the great privilege of walking with people through times of sorrow and pain, but I have rarely experienced the roller-coaster of emotions of last week. 

In the midst of our FBCG celebration of Christ’s birth, which included 12 services over three days and over 5,000 people, we also were planning two funeral services for families that had suffered heartbreak and loss. In the midst of enjoying Christmas with my own family, I was wondering what to say to parents who had lost an 18 year old son.

I kept thinking of this story from Matthew’s gospel. I kept thinking of “Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” 

Where is God when mothers are weeping for their children?

We find the answer when we read the story of Lazarus in John 11. 

Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are among Jesus’ closest friends. When Lazarus becomes very sick, his sisters send word to Jesus. But by the time Jesus arrives in their village, Lazarus has already been dead for four days. When they show Jesus the tomb where Lazarus’ body has been laid to rest, the Bible says simply, 

Jesus wept. (John 11:35)

In those two words we see where God is when mothers weep for their children. He is in their tears. Jesus grieved the very tears of God at the death of a friend. Those watching knew instinctively that his tears came from his love for his friend.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36)

In the middle of this story Lazarus’ sisters each say to Jesus, 

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32)

In this statement, Mary and Martha are expressing their belief that Jesus had the power and authority to heal Lazarus from whatever sickness afflicted him. But they are also, in a way, asking the inevitable question of human suffering.

Why?

Why did you not come sooner?

Why did you not do something to help?

Why our brother? Why now?

And the only answer Jesus gives the sisters is this:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and he who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

And then:

“Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Then Jesus calls Lazarus from the tomb by speaking his name. And, just like that, Lazarus is raised from the dead.

Now, our attention is drawn to the miracle of resurrection, of course, but I don’t think that’s the point of the story! The point of the story is the glory of God revealed in the authority of Jesus. The point of the story is that Jesus holds authority over life and death, and that we have access to his authority through faith.

The Bible does not paint a utopian picture of human existence. From the third chapter of Genesis, when sin and death enter the world, to the great book of Revelation, which points to the final redemption of all things, the world is a broken place. 

It’s a place where jealous kings kill innocent children.

It’s a place where elementary schools are targeted by sick men with assault weapons.

It’s a place where18 year olds die too young.

It’s a place where mothers weep for their children.

And we ask “Why?”

The story of Lazarus reminds us that the better questions are, “Who?” and “What?”

The “who” is Jesus, who has authority over sin and death.

The “what” is the promise of eternal life.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and he who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

This is why Paul says in 1 Thessalonians:

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13

People we love die; young and old alike; and we grieve. But as deep and wrenching as our grief is, we, that is, those who have recognized and trusted the authority of Jesus, grieve with great hope.

We grieve with hope because Christ tells us that even though physical death is real it is not the final word! 

In describing the promise of the new heaven and new earth, the Apostle John writes:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

So we live in this world. We love each other as we love and serve our Lord Jesus. And when we lose those we love we grieve. But we grieve with hope because death is not the end, but the beginning.

Pastor Brian Coffey