His Comfort

Jesus wept. John 11:35    (NIV)

The shortest verse in the Bible. In two words, God can speak volumes.

The writers of the gospels tell us that Jesus did show His emotions, including weeping for the pain of His children (Matthew 9:36) and over the city of Jerusalem who would not hear Him (Luke 13:34) and here for the grief of those He loved (John 11). Jesus was not ‘above’ tears or grief. When He heard about John the Baptist’s death, (Matthew 14:12-13) Jesus “withdrew…to a solitary place”. I think He did grieve. Did Jesus know that John had eternal life? Of course! Maybe He spoke with the Father like I did after my son, James, died. Maybe He even wept as I did. “God, I know that You are in control. I know that James did not die by ‘mistake’. I can even ‘see’ so many miracles and how people have come to know Your Son, Jesus, since James died. I am sad for me because I miss him!” The Father is okay with that conversation and quick to hold me and comfort me as only He can.

Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.       2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (CEV)

God is ‘on call’ for comfort any time, day or night, 24/7. The sharp pain of a loss, whether it is someone we love, a job, a home, or a relationship, many times will catch us by surprise. It never catches God by surprise. He knows my heart and knows the needs of my heart for healing and nurturing even before I do.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he reminds me that as I receive God’s comfort, I become a conduit for His comfort to others. I must receive God’s comfort before I can give it away. I must allow God to minister to me before I can minister to others.

Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!
Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people. Isaiah 49:13 (The Message)

God comforts (present tense). He is doing it now. He has compassion on those who suffer. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we would have trouble. Some translations say ‘suffering’. We wonder why God allows suffering. It is a fallen, sinful world. This is not paradise. God has compassion on those who suffer. Sometimes the suffering is through no fault of our own but sometimes it is from poor choices. God has compassion there, too. The consequences may come but so will God’s compassion with His comfort.