Grieving According to Jesus

Gary Collins offers insight into the biblical perspective of grief in his book Christian Counseling:

“The Bible is a realistic book which describes the deaths and subsequent grieving of many people. In the Old Testament, we read of God’s presence and comfort as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4); we read descriptions of people grieving in times of loss and trouble (Ps. 6:5-7; 137:1, 5, 6; 2 Sam. 12); we learn that God strengthens grievers (Ps. 119:28); and we are introduced to the Messiah as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief… Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried” (Is. 53:3,4).

“In the New Testament, a variety of passages deal with grief. These might be grouped into two categories, each dealing with the influence of Jesus Christ.

1. “Christ has changed the meaning of grieving. There are many nonbelievers who grieve without any hope for the future. For them, death is the end of a relationship – forever.

“But the Christian does not believe that. In the two clearest New Testament passages on this subject (1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thes. 4), we learn that “if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus” (1 Thes. 4:14). We can “comfort one another with these words” (1 Thes. 4:18), convinced that in the future “the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed…” (1 Cor. 15:52-54).

“For the Christian, death is not the end of existence; it is the entrance into life eternal. The one who believes in Christ knows that Christians will “always be with the Lord.” Physical death is still present because the devil has “the power of death,” but because of the crucifixion and resurrection, Christ has defeated death and promised that the one who lives and believes in Christ “shall never die” (1 Thess. 4:17; Heb. 2:14, 15; 2 Tim. 1:10; John 11:25, 26).

“This knowledge is comforting, but it does not eliminate the intense pain of grief and the need for comfort. In a discussion of death, Paul encouraged his readers to take courage and not lose heart since the person who is absent from the body is present with the Lord (2 Cor. 4:14-5:8). Believers are encouraged to be steadfast, immovable and doing the Lord’s work since such effort is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58) when we have assurance of the resurrection.

2. “Christ has demonstrated the importance of grieving. Early in his ministry, Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount and spoke about grieving: “Blessed are those that mourn,” he said, “for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). Mourning was taken for granted. Apparently, it was seen as something positive since it is listed among a group of desirable qualities such as meekness, gentleness, mercy, purity of heart and peacemaking…

“When Lazarus died, Jesus was troubled and deeply moved. He accepted, without comment, the apparent anger that came from Mary, Lazarus’s sister, and he wept with the mourners. Jesus knew that Lazarus was about to be raised from the dead, but the Lord still grieved (John 11). He also

withdrew and grieved when he learned that John the Baptist had been executed (Matt. 14:12-21). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was “deeply grieved” (Matt. 26:38), perhaps with an anticipatory grief, more intense but similar to that experienced by David as he watched his infant son die (2 Sam. 12:15-23).

“Even for the Christian, then, grief is normal and healthy.

“Grief, as well as death, is a natural and inescapable part of human experience. “To feel a deep sense of grief,” says Olson, “to be overwhelmed with pain, to be in utter despair in response to… a loss is completely normal, healthy, and in line with God’s plan and creation.” As “the preacher” said, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die… at time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

It would be great for each Christian influencer to read Christian Counseling: A Comprehensive Guide by Gary Collins.

Josh D. McDowell

Scriptures on Grief

• Psalm 23:4 • Psalms 6:5-7; 137:1, 5-6 • 2 Samuel 12 • Psalm 119:28 • Isaiah 53:3-4 • 1 Corinthians 15 • 1 Thessalonians 4 • Hebrews 2:14-15 • 2 Timothy 1:10 • John 11:25-26 • 2 Corinthians 4:145:8 • Matthew 5:4 • John 11 • Matthew 14:12-21, 26:38 • 2 Timothy 1:10 • Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 • Job 2:13 • Psalm 46:1 • Psalm 116:15 • John 14:1-4 2 Corinthians 1:3-7