No Longer Grieving

[Jesus said,] “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.”

John 16:20

AFTER WITNESSING JESUS’ capture, trial, and walk to Golgotha, all the disciples but John deserted Jesus. Some of them feared capture themselves. Others, like Thomas, were too grief stricken to watch what they knew would happen. None of them really understood at that point what the Crucifixion was all about. Above all, they clearly did not see the coming Resurrection, although Jesus had explained it to them several times.

When Jesus appeared to them afterward—alive, whole, and perfect—they rejoiced like never before and rushed out to tell the world all that had happened.

Similarly, Christians who lose loved ones—especially children and others who have had a huge impact on their lives—mourn their deaths. But God’s promise is that one day all those horrors will be reversed. If they were Christians, we will rejoice to see our loved ones in heaven, alive and glorified and perfectly reflecting the image of Jesus.

But even now we don’t have to mourn like those who have no hope. Our grief will turn to joy when we reunite with our loved ones in heaven.