We learn from our Old Testament reading that the widow of Zarephath lost her son. He became ill and died. In her grief she said to the prophet Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!” She was overwhelmed with sorrow over the death of her son.
In our Holy Gospel for today, we hear of another widow—the widow of Nain. She also lost her only son. Parents are not supposed to bury their children. It is meant the other way around. Yet, the widow of Nain had to bury her son, and she wept with deep sorrow. There was a large crowd gathered to comfort her in her grief.
We, too, grieve when a loved one dies—a spouse, a grandparent or parent, a sibling, a son or daughter, or a close friend. All of us, I’m sure, have attended a funeral at one time or another. Each person grieves differently, but grief always brings a flood of emotions. What is grief? How do we define it? At its heart, grief is the pain of separation. Yet in our grief we also find comfort, because Jesus has overcome death by His resurrection.
This morning, I want to talk with you about the four stages of grief. But I also want to talk with you about the comfort of the Gospel. Because Jesus lives, you too shall live.
First of all, the death of a loved one brings both sadness and joy.
After a loved one dies, naturally, we weep. We hug family or friends crying on their shoulder. We cry because our loved one is no longer here. We can no longer talk with them or hear their voice. Their chair sits empty. The house is quiet. Their death causes us to mourn and cry.
Even Jesus knows what grief is all about. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept.
Death entered the world when Satan tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. They gave into the temptation and ate. Romans 5:12 tells us that “sin came into our world through one man [namely Adam] and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” And Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death.” Since we are all sinful by nature, then someday we will die. We can prolong life, but we cannot prevent death. Every funeral is a reminder that we, too, will die.
When Jesus told the widow of Nain, “Do not weep,” He did not mean that we should never cry. He meant, “Do not weep without hope, for I have come to conquer death.” Jesus knew He would raise her son from the dead.
St. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” We grieve, yes, but not as the world does. We grieve with hope, knowing that our loved one is with our Lord in heaven.
While on earth, our loved one confessed their sins and received the forgiveness of sins. They believed in Christ’s death and resurrection for their salvation. They heard preaching and received the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis. They performed good works for the sake of others. They loved their family and church.
When they walked through the valley of the shadow of death, they feared no evil because Christ was their Savior. They now dwell in the house of our Lord forever. They rest from their labors. Their suffering is ended. Our memories of them will last a lifetime. We thank God on how they have been a blessing to us.
Dearly beloved in the Lord, we never know when death will come to us. So, remain in the faith. Nurture you faith in Christ with the Gospel. Confess your sins and receive the forgiveness of sins. Do not despise preaching and the word, but gladly hear and learn it. Receive the Lord’s Supper on a regular basis. And love one another showing mercy to them.
So, the death of a loved one is a bitter sweet. It is a sad day to be sure, but it is also a day of joy knowing that they are with our Lord and that their body awaits the resurrection on the last day.
Second, the death of a loved one is a shock, but with time we pray that eventually we may learn to accept it.
Everything was going well for the widow of Zarephath. As the prophet Elijah promised, God caused the floor and the oil to multiply. They had enough food to live on even in a drought. But all of a sudden, her son became sick and died. She was shocked by her son’s sudden death. Likewise, the widow of Nain must have been stunned by the death of her only son.
Many were shocked at the sudden death of Charlie Kirk. So also, many mourn the death of family and friends who died at the hand of violence in Minnesota, Michigan, and in other places.
When death comes suddenly, it leaves us in shock. We don’t want it to happen, but it happened. We cannot believe that he or she is gone. We wish we would have said “goodbye” or done something before they died.
The disciples also felt this shock. On Maundy Thursday, they sat with Jesus in the Upper Room. Everything was fine. Then suddenly, while in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was taken from them, condemned, and nailed to the cross.
At the foot of the cross was another widow. Mary, the mother of our Lord, wept and she watched her Son die.
Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died as a payment for our sins. He died to bear the wrath of God in our place. He died so that there can be reconciliation with the Father.
If Jesus has the power to give life back to the widow’s son of Nain, then He surely has the power to overcome death Himself. Jesus once said, “I have the power to lay my life down and I have the power to take it up again” (Jn 10:18). And sure enough, Jesus defeated death by His resurrection. Because Jesus lives, you too shall live.
We don’t have a God who knows nothing about suffering. Jesus suffered for you and me. We also don’t have a God who knows nothing about death. Jesus went through death for us.
So yes, the death of a loved one is a shock. Eventually, we accept their death, and we believe that God’s will be done.
Third, the death of a loved may bring anger, but we trust in Christ alone.
Death often causes us to question God. “Why? Why did my loved one die? Why now?” We naturally get angry at God. We think that He should have prevented this death.
The widow of Zarephath said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son.” She was angry at Elijah blaming him for her son’s death.
But God is not our enemy. The devil is. He tempted Adam and Eve to sin. The devil brought death into our world through Adam and Eve. The devil is our enemy not God. God is on our side.
God the Father came to our rescue by sending His only begotten Son to defeat the devil, to conquer death, and to rise from the dead. In Christ there is life and salvation. The victory is yours in Christ Jesus.
So, when we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil because we know that heaven is ours through faith in Christ. Heaven is our real home. This is only a temporary place.
So, the death of a loved one may be a day of anger, but we trust in Christ’s victory over death and the grave, and we trust that our loved one who died in the faith is with Jesus.
Finally, the death of a loved one is a day of loneliness, but it is also a day of comfort.
The widow of Nain wept not only because her son died, but also because she is now alone. She has no husband and now she has no son.
We, too, feel that loneliness, especially when a spouse or close friend dies. But our comfort is in Christ. His Gospel brings us hope in the midst of grief, joy in the midst of sorrow, and life in the midst of death.
Jesus said to the widow’s son, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Jesus’ word brought life. Jesus spoke life into the young man.
So also, the Gospel speaks life to you now. In Baptism you were joined to Christ’s death and resurrection. You live now in Christ, and you will live forever. This Gospel brings you comfort and peace – a peace which the world can never give.
Yes, death brings sorrow, shock, anger, and loneliness. But in Christ we find joy, acceptance, trust, and comfort. In Christ there is life and salvation.
While we remain here on earth, what are we to do? Live life to its fullness. Don’t live in fear. Love your family. Spend time with them. Be faithful to your spouse. If you go to college, do well in your classes. Enjoy life according to God’s Word. Attend church on a regular basis making it your highest priority in life. Love one another and help those who are in need. Let the light of Christ shine in and through your life. Let others know that you believe in Christ as your Savior and that someday you look forward to heaven.
When we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil because we know that Christ died for us and that He rose from the dead. Because Jesus lives, we too shall live. And in heaven, we will be reunited with those who have gone before us in Christ. God grant this for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
