Saturdays are for Newspaper Articles

This is my weekly article from the Canyon Lake (TX) Times-Guardian:

“Weep with Those Who Weep (Conclusion)”

            As I said in my article two weeks ago, one of the best summaries in the entire Bible of the range of emotions needed in supporting other people is Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.”  Though I am sure that reasons for rejoicing will show themselves in due time, it has been quite a time for learning about the second part of that verse recently.

            Now, in saying that, I am not being a pessimist.  In fact, I think it is actually quite realistic to observe from life that, sometimes, similar things happen as if in “seasons.”  At the very least, as the well-known verses from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, immortalized to the Baby Boomer generation by The Byrds’ song “Turn, Turn, Turn,” says, “There is a time for every purpose under heaven.”  Or, to put it in everyday common sense wording: “When it rains, it pours.”

            That is very much the way it has been for the last several weeks with some dear people who have been through some very deep emotional water.  So, since that state of affairs continued through yesterday (I’m writing this on a Monday), I am doing this last installment on “weeping” before moving on to other topics in future weeks.

            In my last article, I reported on the death of a relatively young man (he was 45) and how difficult it had been for his family.  In this installment, I’m following through with what Paul Harvey would call “the rest of the story.”  You may be relieved to know that, even though there is still much grief to be worked through in the time ahead, there has been a good bit of rejoicing mixed in during the ensuing week.

            Here are the big events that took place during that time.  First, after his death on Monday, there was a graveside service at Cranes Mill Cemetery on Thursday morning.  It was only attended by family and a few close friends.  After I presented my remarks, a number of those present spoke up and expressed thanks for how this man had touched their lives and how much they would miss him.  Second—though it may seem like strange timing, completely out of sequence—the memorial service was not held until Sunday afternoon.

            However, let me quickly add that there was a very good reason for delaying the memorial service for six days, until 4:00 p.m. Sunday.  It was to allow as many friends as possible arriving in Kerrville for the Kerrville Folk Festival to get into town and find out about the memorial service in time to make the drive to Canyon Lake.  The reasoning for this was based on the fact that a number of his friends from Kerrville are non-Christians and the family had requested that the thrust of the service be presenting the gospel message.  Of course, I was more than happy to comply with their wishes.

            In hearing that, you may be asking yourself “Aren’t funerals primarily for talking about the deceased?”  Certainly, you have every right to ask that question.  After all, most funerals or memorial services do focus on eulogizing the person who has died. But, does that mean that’s the way things are supposed to be?

            Well, if Jesus’ actions mean anything in this discussion, it is striking to note what He did as He stood in front of the grave of His close friend, Lazarus, in John 11.  Instead of comforting Lazarus’ sister, Martha, in regard to the death of her brother, Jesus presents the gospel concerning Himself and His coming resurrection to her and challenges her to believe (11:25-26), which she does (11:27). 

Why did Jesus do so?  Was He terribly insensitive?  Not at all.  In fact, in John 11:35, we find out that Jesus did indeed “weep with those who weep.”  However, He also had an overriding concern in all this: that Martha—and others who were there—were spiritually prepared to follow Lazarus in death. 

             There is only one way to be prepared, and that is through faith in Jesus (11:25; 14:6).  Thus, like the family I dealt with this past week, Jesus was willing to put off the grieving until He knew that He had done everything possible to make sure that all loved ones and friends had the opportunity to hear the gospel and believe.  That does not mean they will believe.  But, they cannot do so unless they hear and understand the message.  That was Jesus’ heartfelt concern and it was also my job this past week.

Coming Tuesday: “Thoughts about My Journey before Moving on to Other Topics”