Christmas is a difficult time for an entire bunch of americans. It has a way of reminding us of what we don't have. A tree stands tall. Stockings dangle from the mantle. The odor of gingerbread lingers within the hall. Hallmark movies play on the tv. and mounds of items sit fortunately neighborhood.
however some thing is lacking. really, a person is missing. and christmas appears greater like a bucket of sorrow than a cup of good cheer.
in that case, this message is for you.
For the previous three weeks, I've been writing in regards to the incarnation. It's the beauty of God inserting Himself in our shoes through the person of Jesus Christ. That's the reality we celebrate all the way through Christmas. And it's on account of Christ coming into our world and strolling in human flesh that He is familiar with our plight. He is familiar with temptation. Rejection. suffering. And yes, Jesus understands grief. Let me exhibit you.
"Now a definite man changed into ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus changed into sick. So the sisters despatched to him, asserting, 'Lord, he whom you like is ill'" (John 11:1-3 ESV).
Most of us are typical with this story. Lazarus is ill. however he is a pal of Jesus. And his sisters call for Jesus to return and heal their in poor health brother. Upon listening to the news, youngsters, Jesus stays the place he's.
"Now Jesus adored Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus became unwell, he stayed two days longer within the place where he was" (v. 5-6 ESV).
by the point Jesus makes it to Bethany, Lazarus has been buried for 4 days.
"So when Martha heard that Jesus turned into coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the residence. Martha talked about to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother don't have died'" (v. 20-21 ESV).
It doesn't take long earlier than Mary comes to Jesus and reiterates those equal words.
Mary and Martha can't assist however ask yourself why. Why does Jesus come so late? Why does He no longer heal their brother? Questions like these weigh heavy on our hearts as we grieve. in spite of everything, we recognize God is in a position to curative. he's in a position to holding. And when He doesn't, it's effortless to query Him in our hearts.
The identical is true for Mary and Martha. however let's see how Jesus responds.
"When Jesus noticed her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her additionally weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and significantly bothered. And he spoke of, 'the place have you ever laid him?' They observed to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept. So the Jews mentioned, 'See how he cherished him!' but some of them observed, 'couldn't he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have stored this man from loss of life?'" (v. 33-37 ESV).
through this passage, we be taught that whereas God doesn't at all times supply the answers we're hunting for, He does relate to us in our grief. He doesn't leave us to mourn on our own. With unparalleled empathy, Christ comes alongside us in our sorrow. And what a marvelous fact it is.
but there's anything else I desire us to look. not best does Christ relate to us in our grief, he is the champion over demise.
hearken to what Jesus tells Martha when she comes to him: "'i'm the resurrection and the existence. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he reside, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall not ever die. Do you accept as true with this?'" (v. 25-26 ESV).
"She spoke of to him, 'yes, Lord; I consider that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who's coming into the world'" (v. 27 ESV).
indeed, he's the promised Messiah. And he's coming into the area again sooner or later. simply as Christ raised Lazarus from the useless, so will He elevate all who've died believing in Him.
"For as by means of a person got here dying, by means of a man has come also the resurrection of the useless. For as in Adam all die, so additionally in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:21-22 ESV).
Christ is victorious over demise. And when we acquire Him as our Lord and Savior, we share in that victory (see 1 Cor. 15:55-fifty seven).
No depend what sort of grief we face, we discover lifestyles in the palms of a Savior who understands. We locate comfort in the fingers of a Savior who is familiar with. Why? as a result of He got here as a child on that day we call Christmas.
Christmas may additionally now not look the identical this yr. most likely someone is missing. but Christ has come. He knows your pain. he is lifestyles. and i pray you locate comfort in that most valuable certainty.
Isaiah Pauley is the Minister of Worship for faith Baptist Church in Mason, W.Va. find extra at www.isaiahpauley.com
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