Jesus said, Blessed are those who Mourn

The Beatitude Series-part 2

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

I am in a season of mourning. Mike and I have all too recently lost both of our moms. They are walking now, pain-free, on the golden streets of heaven. Maybe dancing. Certainly celebrating with their loved ones.

But today I mourn. I miss these two lovely ladies. One, my dear sweet mom and the other, our beloved Betty. Living in the blessing, though, the Makarios, helps me to realize that God is faithful. Even in my mourning, especially in my mourning, He comforts me.

When I study these words in Matthew 5:4 using the Bible Commentary in the Blue Letter Bible App, I realize that mourning here, takes me to a deeper place. The Greek word used here is Pentheo. It is the strongest Greek word to refer to a deep, godly sorrow over our own sinfulness. Jesus speaks to a personal, deep mourning of our hearts.

This is the place where we realize that we are unworthy of His affections toward us. We recognize how far we have fallen from His grace. We painfully realize that we cannot make this right, but we need our Savior.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

This reality causes us to grieve deeply for what could be if we would walk in His ways instead of rebellion. We may realize the time we've lost as sinners in a fallen world. So we mourn what might have been if only we had responded to Jesus when He first approached us.

This, my friend, leads us to repentance. This is part of our surrender. When we see our own reality-that we are in need of a Savior-we will be comforted. When we mourn the years of our rebellion, the heart of Jesus connects to our brokenness and He becomes everything that we need!

A "But God" Moment

For the moment I choose Jesus, my past is gone.

"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:12

Jesus celebrates the fact that we have turned to Him. He rejoices in our desire to walk with Him. He comforts us.

My friend, Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Jesus is teaching the people that when we mourn, we will be comforted. When we realize our need for Him, turn to Him, then we will finally find Makarios. We can live today by the eyes of faith, believing that God will fulfill this promise.

I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. Jeremiah 31:13

Dear Jesus, we trust you to be with us as we mourn. Comfort us as only you can. We look to You for comfort, peace and joy. Hold us, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen