The Beatitudes (Part 2)
A blessing for us when we experience loss
===
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 (NET)
===
While the first of the Beatitudes dealt with the spiritual side of things, this one is more general.
It’s also a tougher one for me to talk about.
Not so much because of dealing with mourning and loss but because I am a pretty low empathy person.
I admire the empathy that Jesus displays throughout the New Testament.
His first miracle (turning the water into wine at the wedding feast) seemed pretty impromptu. He was interrupted by His mother with a request.
Not even a life or death thing, just saving the host from social embarrassment.
Yet Jesus, in his empathy, steps in and performs a miracle to fix the problem.
Jesus also did many miracles of healing & raising the dead.
The biggest one is probably Lazarus.
They were friends and before Jesus executed His miraculous healing, He wept.
We don’t know exactly why He wept, but we know that something about the situation moved Him to tears.
Jesus also mourned over the city of Jerusalem, with their lost attitude.
I know I’m flying through examples here, but I’m highlighting the empathy Jesus had for people then and what He has for us today.
When the troubles of life hit us, causing us to mourn the loss of loved ones or other losses, Jesus understands.
More than that, He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to comfort us in our troubles.
Truly a blessing for the times when we mourn.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.