As I write this, I am preparing for a visitation and memorial for my brother-in-law who died unexpectedly in a recent car accident.
Times of unexpected tragedy can often become times of intense reflection – on life, on the world, on faith, on any number of other topics – and this tragedy has been no different for me. One thing I have been noting is how much differently death is processed by those who believe in a God (any god, really) and those who do not. Both experience the pain and anguish of grief and loss, but it seems people who do not believe in any kind of god demonstrate a finality to their grief – a despondency – that is not quite the same for those who believe in God, and by extension, some form of life after death. For Christians in particular, death is not just an end but also a new beginning.
Walking through this experience caused me to ask the question – what is the point? Why do we believe, and why do we try to put into practice what we believe? Especially in circumstances like this – where no trite theological explanation about freewill or sin in the world can really answer the most asked question at a time such as this – why? What do I say to someone who is deeply mourning, and for whom this kind of loss is often proof the concept of God is false or the God who exists certainly is not worth knowing?
Two scriptures came to my attention in this time that I think speak to this very situation.
First, in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul writes: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
The comfort God gives is fundamental to our faith as Christians. However, Paul reminds us – as wonderful as it is to receive God’s comfort ourselves, the purpose of this comfort is it gives us the strength to comfort others – especially in circumstances like a tragic and unexpected death – in the same way. Our comfort for hoarding, but for sharing and passing on.
Second – in one of the most profound verses in the Bible, John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.”
Contextually, he wept in response to the death of a friend, Lazarus. However, Jesus knew he would call Lazarus out of his tomb shortly – and so the real catalyst for his tears was not death itself, but his compassionate response to the real grief experienced by real people because of his death – and perhaps even their sense that Jesus could have prevented it but didn’t. Jesus’ response was not to explain, but to feel their pain and walk with them through it.
May we be similar sources of comfort and empathy as we seek to imitate Jesus.
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Sean East serves as pastor at the Listowel Mennonite Church.
