“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” This quote from Matthew 5:4 marks the second beatitude. This article is the next part of a series on the beatitudes, following the initial article of the first beatitude. It is crucial to read the previous article on the first beatitude, as each builds upon the one before in a logical sequence.
1. What Does It Mean To Mourn?
After recognizing our spiritual poverty and the need for God we then actively seek Jesus. Believers often experience a phase of mourning upon receiving Jesus. This mourning entails a profound sense of regret, brokenness, and shame over the extent of our sinful nature. It serves as a stark realization of our absolute dependence on God, highlighting the futility of our efforts without Him. Those who strive without God do so fruitlessly. Here are some examples illustrating the concept of mourning.
1.1 Peter And Jesus On The Boat
After preaching on Peter’s boat, Jesus instructed him to cast nets to catch some fish. But Peter responded that they had worked hard all night and they had not caught anything, but proceeded to cast the nets as Jesus instructed. Thereafter they caught so much fish, that the nets began to tear, there was an abundance of fish that even the boat was on the verge of sinking.
When Peter realized what happened he bowed before Jesus and said “O Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man.” Peter’s bow to Jesus feet was a demonstration of mourning his sinfulness, that he even acclaimed before all that he is such a sinful man.”
1.2 David Confronted By Nathan
After David’s transgressions with Bathsheba and the subsequent murder of Uriah, Prophet Nathan confronted him about his wrongdoing. David acknowledged his sins, expressing his deep remorse and shame in Psalm 51. Like Peter before Jesus, he humbly confessed his sinful nature.
2. What Does It Mean To be Comforted?
Jesus response to Peter who had witnessed the voluminous number of fish that had been caught said, “Don’t be afraid! From no on you’ll be fishers of men” (Luke 5:10). Such comforting words from Jesus is what happens when we we encounter Jesus and realize how righteous he is compared to us. Not only does he comfort us but he are raises us to higher calling.
When God comforts us, it is to help us move beyond sorrow and towards a greater purpose that glorifies Him. For the disciples, this higher calling meant transitioning to become fishers of men.
God continued to work through David even after his mistakes because David mourned and confessed his sins. This led him to compose reflective Psalms praising God’s compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. This transformation came from someone who had previously felt distant from God, grappling with guilt and shame that usually push us away. Through this process, he found God to be a source of comfort.
3. Why Are We blessed When We Mourn Our Sinfulness?
Reflecting on our sinful nature comes from understanding that we are mere mortal beings who require God’s guidance to lead a righteous life.
Living a life filled with sin can lead to feelings of shame and guilt, prompting us to confess our wrongdoings. By seeking forgiveness from God, we can find comfort in His forgiving nature, allowing us to align with His desire for us to live righteously and reflect His likeness.
Jesus felt deep sorrow, on the Mount of Olives, as he foresaw the sins of humanity that would soon be placed upon him at the cross. While praying, an angel from heaven appeared and gave him strength, as noted in Luke 22:43.
He prayed to God to spare him from the impending suffering. Even though the suffering was not taken away, He was strengthened by the angel of God. Thereafter he was led to fulfill his higher calling, death on the cross and a resurrection back to life.
1 John 1:9 reads, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” When we mourn our sins, we confess that we’ve missed the mark. We are blessed in that we mourn our sinfulness in that we experience the nature of God as a comforter, a forgiver of sins, a healer of diseases caused by our sinfulness and more.
This doesn’t imply that we should indulge in sin to feel God’s comfort. He comforts us to help us carry out His purpose on earth. When David found comfort, he achieved victories that glorified God and composed numerous Psalms that are still treasured today.
4. Final Remarks
The article on the first beatitude highlighted that encountering the Kingdom of Heaven begins with acknowledging our need for God in our lives, leading us to actively search for Him. It reassures us that by seeking Him, we will ultimately discover His presence.
The second beatitude illustrates that upon encountering God, similar to Peter encountering Jesus, we undergo a phase of mourning due to our sinful nature as we draw close to God and recognize the righteousness of Jesus. During this process, Jesus provides comfort instead of condemnation, enabling us to lead a life that honors him. This is exemplified by Jesus’ response to the woman caught in adultery, where He did not condemn her but encouraged her to go and refrain from sinning further (John 8:11).
Dear reader, recognize that sin can hinder and distract us from living for God’s glory. By acknowledging our sins, repenting, and turning to God, we receive His forgiveness, which rejuvenates us. Thereafter, He calls us to His divine purpose which entail fulfilling His will on earth.
After the phase mourning, we are to follow Jesus just as the Peter and the disciples followed him after drawing lots of fish from the water. They were subsequently called to a greater and divine purpose of becoming fishers of men.
This transformation is exemplified by Saul, who, upon meeting Jesus, started spreading the Gospel to the Gentile communities. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted so that they can live to glorify God and execute God’s will and divine purpose here on earth.
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