Sorrow is something that we are all familiar with. We have all, to varying degrees, had to endure times of our life where our hearts are weighed down with grief, with the dread that we will never know joy again because there is nothing left to bring us joy. Such was the grief of the disciples when they saw their Lord betrayed, shamefully treated, and brutally murdered. They had put all their hope in Jesus. And for what? He was dead. And to make it worse, the world rejoiced at His death and their sorrow. They were glad to see the Christ dead. The One who had promised life and salvation was Himself dead. In our sorrow it is as though Christ is still dead and buried in the tomb. But He is not. He is risen. Do not seek the living among the dead. That is why Jesus speaks these words of comfort to His disciples before His Passion. He was preparing them and promising them that the agony of their sorrow would not last forever, not simply because they would eventually get over it, but because they would see Him again, because He would live! These words and promises are for you just as much as they were for the disciples. Your sorrow, whatever it may be is not eternal. It will not last. Indeed, it will give way to inexpressible joy which will never be taken away from you. One day you will look at Jesus face to face and sorrow will never be able to touch you. Yet even now, as you endure this little while of sorrow, Jesus does not leave you alone. He continues to speak and remind you that the little while WILL end and give way to an eternity of joy with Him. Come and be refreshed in your sorrow by your risen Lord and Savior. I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day.
Pastor Ulmer