What is

a multifaceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something, who has passed away, to which a bond or affection was formed.

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Ecclesiastes 7:2 Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

• Isaac and Rebekah experienced grief when their son Esau married a Hittite woman (Gen. 26:35)

• Hannah, because she had no son, grieved—so much so that she appeared to be drunk while praying (1 Sam. 1:16)

• Samuel, distraught at King Saul’s disobedience, prayed all night.

• Job was exceedingly sorrowful over his personal loss (Job 2:13; cf. 6:2; 16:6)

• Jacob for Joseph (37:34, 35)• The Egyptians for Jacob (50:3–10)• Israel for Aaron (Num. 20:29)• Israel for Moses (Deut. 34:8)• Israel for Samuel (1 Sam. 25:1)

• Abraham mourned for Sarah (Gen. 23:2)

• David for Abner (2 Sam. 3:31, 35)• Mary and Martha for Lazarus (John 11)• Devout men for Stephen (Acts 8:2)

-- [70 days] -- [30 days]

-- [30 days]

• Israel for Saul (1 Sam. 31:13) -- [7 days]

• closing of the eyes of the dead (Gen. 46:4)

• tearing one’s garments (Gen. 37:34; 2 Sam. 1:11; Job 1:20)

• embracing of the body (Gen. 50:1)• preparation of the body for burial (Acts 5:1–10)

• put on sackcloth (2 Sam. 3:31)

• take off one’s shoes (2 Sam. 15:30; Mic. 1:8) and headdress• a man might cover his beard or veil his face (Ezek. 24:17, 23)• put earth on their heads (Jos. 7:6; 1 Sam. 4:12; Neh. 9:1; Job 2:12;

Ezek. 27:30)• roll in the dust (Job 16:15; Mic. 1:10)

• sit on a heap of ashes (Esth. 4:3; Isa. 58:5; Jer. 6:26; Ezek. 27:30)

• Mourners refrained from washing and discontinued the use of perfumes (2 Sam. 12:20; 14:2).

• Fasting was also a mourning rite (1 Sam. 31:13; 2 Sam. 1:12).• Neighbors or friends brought mourning bread and the “cup of

consolation” to the relatives of the deceased (Jer. 16:7; Ezek. 24:17, 22).

• Food could not be prepared at the house of the dead because death rendered a place unclean.

• At the graveside, lamentation for the dead was made (1 Kgs 13:30; Jer. 6:26; Amos 5:16; 8:10; Zech. 12:10) by men and women in separate groups (Zech. 12:11–14).

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. . . .

18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Dwight Moody...awoke from sleep shortly before he died and said:"Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me.If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here.God is calling me, and I must go.”

And Moody's son said,"No, no, Father. You're dreaming."And Moody replied, "I am not dreaming.I have been within the gates.This is my triumph;this is my coronation day! It is glorious!”

Augustus Toplady, preacher and author of the hymn, Rock of Ages:"The consolations of God to such an unworthy wretch are so abundant that He leaves me nothing to pray for but a continuance of them. I enjoy heaven already in my soul.”

Adoniram Judson, American missionary to Burma:"I go with the gladness of a boy bounding away from school. I feel so strong in Christ.”

John A. Lyth:"Can this be death? Why, it is better than living! Tell them I die happy in Jesus!”

A Moslem woman, whose child had died at 16 years of age asked a Christian missionary:"What did you do to our daughter?"The missionary replied, "We did nothing," But the mother persisted, "Oh, yes, you did! She died smiling. Our people do not die like that.”

As it turned out, the girl had found Christ and believed on Him only a few months before. Fear of death had gone and hope and joy had taken its place.

Thomas Payne:"I would give worlds, if I had them, if the Age of Reason had never been published. O Lord, help me! Christ, help me! Stay with me! It is hell to be left alone!”

Voltaire:"I am abandoned by God and man!I shall go to hell! O’ Jesus Christ!"

David Hume:The atheist died in utter despair with an awful scene crying out, "I am in the flames!"

Karl Marx:Was on his deathbed surrounded by candles burning to Lucifer and screamed at his nurse who asked him if he had any last words, "Go on, get out! Last words are for fools who haven’t said enough."

Nietzsche:Died insane, completely out of his mind.

Sir Thomas Scott:"Until now I thought there was no God or hell.Now I know there is both, and I am doomed."

Sir Francis Newport:"Do not tell me there is no God for I know there is one, and that I am in his angry presence! You need not tell me there is no hell, for I already feel my soul slipping into its fires! I know that I am lost forever.”

Isaiah 53:3 A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

Matthew 14:10–12 So he (King Herod) sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother (Herodias). 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

1. Jesus sought to be AloneMatthew 14:13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

1. Jesus sought to be AloneMatthew 14:22–23 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

2. Jesus continued His WorkMatthew 14:13b–16 …But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

John 11:1–5 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. bTherefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

3. Jesus Waited

John 11:6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

4. Jesus Wept

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

John 14:1–6 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

“…the best and most comforting sermon preached by Christ while on earth… a jewel and a treasure not are purchasable with the world's goods.”

“…the best and most comforting sermon preached by Christ while on earth… a jewel and a treasure not are purchasable with the world's goods.”

(Sermons on the Gospel of St. John from the series Luther's Works, volume 24 [St. Louis: Concordia, 1961], page 7).

5. Jesus Confronted Death with FaithJohn 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

This statement can be interpreted either as an imperative or an indicative in the Greek. He could have commanded them to believe in God and to believe in Him. Or He could have said factually, “you believe in God; you believe in Me.” But the best translation seems to be, “you believe in God (fact); believe also in Me (command).”

6. Jesus Confronted Death with HopeJohn 14:2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

μονή (mena) abiding, tarrying,

Hebrews 11:16 Heaven is called a country – its vastness

Hebrews 11:10 Heaven is called the city – it's many inhabitants

Matthew 4:17 Heaven is called a kingdom – it's orderliness

Luke 23:43 Heaven is called Paradise – it's beauty

John 14:2 Heaven is called My father's house – it's home

7. Jesus is the Resurrection – Celebrate LifeJohn 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.