Getting Over It: Finding Hope in Grief
An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on May 4, 2025, in the Joshua series. Watch the sermon video here.
Grief is something we all face. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, dealing with illness, or watching someone we care about suffer, grief is a universal human experience. By examining the story of Lazarus in John 11, we can understand how to process grief in healthy ways.
The Story of Lazarus
The story begins with Mary and Martha sending word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus is very sick. Jesus, who was friends with this family, chose to delay his visit. By the time he arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.
Both sisters greeted Jesus with the same painful statement: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." They knew Jesus had the power to heal, yet he didn't come in time. This honest expression of their grief shows us that it's okay to bring our hard questions to God.
Different Ways of Grieving
Mary and Martha processed their grief differently:
Martha approached grief intellectually. She went out to meet Jesus before he arrived in town and expressed her faith despite her pain. She believed Jesus could have saved Lazarus and still had hope in the future resurrection.
Mary stayed home until Martha told her Jesus was asking for her. When she saw Jesus, she fell at his feet weeping. This was the third time in Scripture that Mary was found at Jesus' feet—once to worship, once to listen, and now to mourn.
We often identify with one sister more than the other in how we handle grief. Some of us ask questions and seek understanding, while others express deep emotion.
Jesus' Righteous Anger at Sin
What happens next reveals something profound about Jesus' heart. When the Bible says Jesus was "deeply moved in spirit and troubled," the original Greek word actually means he was angry or outraged.
This wasn't just sadness – this was holy anger directed at the devastating effects of sin in our world. Jesus was furious that sin had entered the world at creation and brought death, disease, and suffering to people he loved.
When Jesus saw Mary weeping at his feet and the mourners around her, he wasn't just sympathizing with their pain. He was angry at the broken reality of a fallen world caused by sin, where his friends had to experience such suffering – a world very different from God's original, perfect design.
The Meaning Behind Jesus' Tears
The famous verse "Jesus wept" takes on deeper meaning in this context. His tears weren't just about missing Lazarus (who he knew he would raise moments later). His tears expressed his rage against sin and its consequences.
Jesus wept because thorns and thistles, cancer and disease, pain and death were never meant to be part of God's good creation. When he looked at Mary and Martha's grief, he saw the devastating aftermath of humanity's fall into sin.
Hope in the Midst of Grief
After weeping with Mary and Martha, Jesus called out, "Lazarus, come out!" and the dead man walked out of the tomb. This miracle gave everyone a glimpse of Jesus' power over death—the same power that would later raise him from his own tomb.
This resurrection story reminds us that while we may experience deep grief in this broken world, we have a hope that goes beyond our current pain. Jesus has victory over death, and he promises that one day there will be "no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Revelation 21:4).
How to Grieve Well
Based on this powerful story, here are three ways we can process grief in healthy ways:
1. Put Your Anger in the Right Place
It's natural to feel angry when facing loss. But remember that God is not the source of death and suffering—he's actually angry about them too. These painful realities are the result of sin entering our world at creation. Like Jesus, direct your anger at sin and its effects, not at the God who rages against the brokenness of our world.
2. Go to God With Your Pain
The Psalms are filled with honest expressions of grief and questioning. Psalm 13 and Psalm 22 show us that it's okay to bring our raw emotions to God. Don't retreat from God in your pain; run to him with your questions and tears. Jesus didn't rebuke Mary and Martha for their honest questions—he met them in their pain.
3. Remember the Promise of Victory
Jesus' anger at death and sin wasn't passive. He demonstrated his power over them by raising Lazarus from the dead, giving us a glimpse of his ultimate victory. For believers, death is not the end of the story. When we lose someone who trusted in Christ, we can find comfort knowing they are experiencing joy in God's presence. And one day, Jesus will return to make all things new.
With time, our own experiences of grief can become ways to help others. Just as Jesus transformed Mary and Martha's grief into an opportunity to display God's glory, our stories can become testimonies that point others to the comfort and strength found in Christ.
Finding Comfort Together
In the midst of grief, we can find profound comfort in the promise from Revelation 21:4 that one day God "will wipe every tear from their eyes." There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. This hope isn't just wishful thinking—it's anchored in the resurrection power of Jesus that we see in the story of Lazarus.
Until that day comes, we can anchor our hope in Jesus' victory over sin and death. We can find comfort in his promises and live with renewed purpose, knowing that our pain is temporary but God's love is eternal.
Are you walking through grief today? You don't have to face it alone. Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. to experience the comfort of community and the hope found in Jesus.