The God of All Comfort in Loss

“Jesus Wept.”  John 11:35

These two words comprise the shortest verse in the Bible but perhaps offer some of the greatest comfort.  As we well know, death is a reality of life.  No matter the circumstance, loss is felt deeply.  Death is never easy.  

Jesus felt it deeply too.  In John 11:14 we learn that Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus, had died.   Even though this death was for the purpose of God’s glory to be revealed in an amazing way, Jesus was moved with compassion when he saw the loved ones of Lazarus mourning his death.  He himself had loved Lazarus and was deeply grieved.  He wept.  Jesus easily could have said, “Come on guys, stop your crying and watch this!”  But he didn’t.  In the midst of pain, grief, and heartache Jesus cried with the mourners.  

Although I know the triumphant end to this story, this strikes me as a beautiful reminder that Jesus came to be our Emmanuel- God with us.  How unbelievably glorious it is that we have a Savior who knows what it is to be hungry, to be tempted, and to have loved and lost.  We have a Savior who cries with us in our time of grief.   

Jesus assures us later on in the book of John that he came to give us a peace that cannot be found in this world (John 14:27).  What a wonderful Savior.  He is present with us in times of loss and is the giver of an unparalleled peace.  In our grief, we can take our deepest comfort in the God who weeps with us, our Emmanuel.    

Questions: 1) How do you respond to death?  2) How can remembering Jesus is Emmanuel add comfort during a time of loss?  3)  How have you seen Jesus give you peace in the face of loss/grief? 

Dear God, thank you for being close to the brokenhearted.  We thank you that you draw near to us in times of loss, and we thank you for a Savior who knows what it is we feel.  We thank you in advance for the peace and comfort you will bring in times of grief.  Amen.