Grieving with Hope

Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

The new Christians in Thessalonica were uninformed about death. They knew about heaven. They knew Jesus is coming back on Judgment Day. But they worried that believers in Jesus who died before Judgment Day would miss out on heaven. When their loved ones died, they were really sad. They grieved without hope. They were afraid that those who died had missed out on heaven.

That’s what happens when you’re uncertain about death: You grieve without hope. An ancient letter was written by a lady named Irene to a family in Egypt who lost a little son. Irene wrote, “You can’t do anything about it. So comfort each other. Fare well.” What? If I were to get that letter after losing a child, do you know what I would do? Grieve. Grieve without hope. We need hope in the face of death!

So read Paul’s words again: “We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” Paul doesn’t say, “Don’t be sad.” Death is sad! Paul says, “Don’t grieve like you have no hope.” Why? Because we have hope! “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Believing in Jesus gives hope in the face of death. Jesus died to forgive every one of your sins. Jesus rose to give us eternal life. Jesus brings hope in the face of death.

That hope is rooted in Jesus’ resurrection. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Just like death wasn’t the end for Jesus, so death isn’t the end for any believer in Jesus. Just like God raised Jesus from the dead, God will raise believers in Jesus from the dead too. They won’t miss out on heaven.

Because of Jesus, we grieve with hope.

Dear Lord Jesus, death is sad. You cried at the death of your friend Lazarus. Yet, you promise that your people will rise from the dead, just like you did. Give us hope even in the face of death. Amen.

Pastor Nathan