LESSON, Radical Teaching of Jesus Christ #2: Blessed they that mourn...

In Matthew 5 Jesus gives us a list of personal “attitudes” that will cause us to be “blessed” or “happy”. These are directly counter the usual humanistic way of thinking.

Radical Concept #2
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 KJV]

Definition of “mourn”: feel or show deep sorrow or regret for (someone or their death), typically by following conventions such as the wearing of black clothes. To feel regret or sadness about (the loss or disappearance of something).

Name some common circumstances that will cause a person to mourn.

What were the disciples mourning in Mark 16:9-14? Was there more than one source of grief?
"Now when [He] rose early on the first [day] of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told [it] to the rest, [but] they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen." [Mark 16:9-14 NKJV]

What mechanism was Jesus using to comfort his disciples in their grief?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Does God comfort us directly through his Spirit? For what purpose?
John 15:25-27

Does God choose to comfort us through other disciples? 
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." [1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV]


In 1 Thessalonians 5, the Bible is specifically addressing the conditions of the last days. In what practical ways are we instructed to comfort?

Regarding:
Church leadership…
General church disposition…
The idle…
The faint…
The weak…
How should we view retaliation?

He gives further "comfort" instruction with the following…
"Rejoice always," [1 Thessalonians 5:16 ESV]
"pray without ceasing," [1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV]
"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." [1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV]
"Do not quench the Spirit." [1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV]
"Do not despise prophecies," [1 Thessalonians 5:20 ESV]
"but test everything; hold fast what is good." [1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV]
"Abstain from every form of evil." [1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV]
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." [1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV]
"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." [1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV]
"Brothers, pray for us." [1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV]
"Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss." [1 Thessalonians 5:26 ESV]

Grief originated in this world as a result of “original sin”. How is it possible that it has been turned into a means of blessing?

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What? No goodbye?

 "And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." - Acts 1:9 esv

Has it ever occurred to you that Jesus didn't give his followers a proper  "goodbye". 

He could have given them a hug or a hand shake, but he didn't. He could have signed autographs or had a farewell dinner. He did none of those things. 

Instead, he stood on a hill and gave instructions to his followers, just like he had many times before. Then, without so much as a goodbye, he rose into the clouds and disappeared from their sight.. 

Here the disciples stood on the front porch of the world, if you will, watching as the one they loved disappeared into the heavens...

And he didn't even say "goodbye".

Imagine how you'd feel if your company left that way. We like to get a goodbye before someone leaves. It puts a period on the end of the visit. Why didn't Jesus give us one?

I've got a theory...

I tell my wife and kids goodbye when I leave for work, and I tell them goodbye when I leave to go into town.  I have to pass around the hugs and kisses (sometimes twice) before I can leave, but, I don't tell them goodbye when I walk into the yard or go into another room in the house. Why? Because I'm not going that far. I'm still home even if they can't see me.

Perhaps you recall a verse from Isaiah 66:1 in which God says, "Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool..."

 You see, what we see as the greatest journey in history looks much different from Jesus' perspective.  We see an almost incomprehensible transition from the earthly temporal to the heavenly eternal. Jesus on the other hand, sees a mere move from the ottoman to the chair.

The reason he didn't say goodbye is because he didn't go that far. In fact, moments before he vanished in to heavens, he promised his disciples, "...I am with you always...".

Friend, heaven is just around the corner and Jesus is still so close he can hear your whisper. He is waiting to hear from you. 

He never said, "Goodbye."