#lighttheworld Day 12 features Jesus' teachings on the Beatitude.
'Light the world' Highlighted these basic research questions on this topic
- Do you know someone who’s recently lost a loved one?
- Do you have a friend who is out of work?
- How can you help someone who is in physical or emotional pain?
Matthew 5
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Losing loved ones be it friends or family members is really tragic and a pitiable situation considering the gap the person's demise must have brought.
I remembered losing a neighbour who was quite mean and strict to me and friends while we were kids. He doesn't love seeing other children coming over to play football and other games with his own kids.
His demise was a big blow on us, I knew it was a sad moment for the family having lost the bread winner. His wives and kids were so surprised seeing I and the other children spent some quality time with and even helping in domestic work.
It was a consoling moment for the family, as some other neighbours never came to visit them considering the late Father's annoying and unfriendly character.
John 11: 32 -36
11
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, If you had been here, my brother would not have died."
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
"Where have you laid him?" He asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
When a loved one dies, we naturally shed tears because we will miss him. Though he had affection for Lazarus, Jesus did not give way to tears because Lazarus died. He shed tears out of compassion for the bereaved, as indicated by the context of John’s account.—John 11:36.
Jesus knew that he was going to resurrect Lazarus. Still, he gave way to tears, moved by his deep love and compassion for his friends. Likewise, our empathy may move us to “weep with people who weep.” (Rom. 12:15) Expressing such grief does not indicate that a person lacks faith in the resurrection hope. How appropriate, then, that Jesus set an example of showing sympathy for the bereaved by sincerely shedding tears even though he was about to raise Lazarus.
Joel was my childhood friend, he is quite older than I am. We lived in the same compound and played football and other games together.
Joel couldn't get admitted to the university after three attempts so he learnt electrical installation work.
When I was in my year three in the University, we had already moved to another neighborhood some distance away from Joel's.
Joel still came visiting after close of work whenever I was home and I too visited him as well.
I came home for Easter celebrations and saw Joel driving close to my house. We exchanged pleasantries when he stopped and I promised visiting him on Easter Sunday.
We played like never before, and recalled childhood memories when I was at his place during Easter.
I returned to school after Easter holiday was over and later got a call two days later that Joel was electrocuted and died on spot.
Jesus!!!..I couldn't believe my ears. "Joel... dead?
The sad news affected my academic performance that semester. I had to visit the family and stayed close to his aging Mom and his siblings. It was really a moment of grief.
We shouldn't use a person's past behaviour to judge him/her sequel to death of the fellow.
We shouldn't judge anyone. Perhaps, they might had confessed or even surrendered their life to Christ before death.
