Here are some questions for you to ponder on the second of Jesus' statements on those who are BLESSED - those who mourn. Join us on Wed 14th September 7-8pm at St Margaret's, or you can ask Iain about these studies at revimaclg@hotmail.co.uk
The true disciple of Christ is a person who mourns [Matthew 5:4]
Jesus is not speaking here about those who are mourning the physical death of a loved one; he is teaching about mourning on a spiritual level.
The true disciple of Jesus Christ is one who is mourning – present, continuous tense. This is not a grief that will pass with time, but a deep, fundamental grief that rocks the innermost being of those who know and love the Lord Jesus.
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What do these verses teach us about this deep spiritual grieving. |
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[1] The example of Jesus Christ |
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Isaiah 53:3
Matthew 9:36
Mark 3:5a
John 11:33-35
John 12:27;13:21
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[2] Examples of grief for the sins of the world, the dishonour of God’s name, and the loss of God’s glory |
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Ezra 10:6
Psalm 119:136
Psalm 139:19-22
Jer 8:21-9:2
Lam 3:48-5
Ezekiel 9:4
Daniel 9:8, 19
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[3] Examples of grief for personal sins |
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Job 42:5,6
Psalm 25:13-18
Psalm 38
Psalm 51:4
Psalm 130:1-2
Psalm 143:1-4
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This ‘mourning’ of the true disciple of Christ has a three-fold focus:
· The true disciple of Christ grieves because of his own sin and failures
· The true disciple of Christ grieves because of the sinfulness of the world around him, including the sinfulness of other disciples, and
· The true disciple of Christ grieves because the Lord is robbed of his rightful honour and glory.
But the true disciple of Christ also has the promise of comfort: because of the victory of Christ on the cross, and because of the sovereign power of God. All these things for which the disciple mourns are neither final nor fatal. There is the comfort of the Gospel, there is the comfort of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and there is the comfort of the scriptures that assure us that God is working his purpose out and that nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.