How to Grieve | John 11Sample

John 11 is a story about grief. Jesus’s friend, Lazarus, dies. Lazarus’s sisters grieve even though they knew a resurrection would come. Jesus weeps and grieves the loss of his friend, even though he can raise him from the dead. Grief happens. Even with the hope of heaven. God grieves, too. There’s hope and comfort in that.

In the face of our grief, there are three things worth remembering: (1) Death is not the way God intended life to be. It’s okay to say, “This isn’t right.” It’s good to grieve. (2) Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay. Martha went to meet her brother’s friend. Then she let it out. Mary stayed back. The friends got practical. Jesus took some time away. (3) There is hope. Not even death can separate us from Christ. And it will never claim final victory.

May Jesus’s words give you that hope. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25, NIV).