Those Who Mourn

(Matthew 5:4 NASB) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus speaks of those who mourn and promises they will be comforted. At first glance, the idea of mourning doesn't seem to align with the concept of being blessed or fortunate. Mourning, in its essence, represents profound sorrow and grief—a feeling typically associated with loss. In scripture, mourning is often seen in response to the death of a loved one or significant hardship. The Bible illustrates mourning as a deep, emotional reaction that is often accompanied by weeping, fasting, and intense grief (Genesis 23:2; Genesis 37:34-35; 2 Samuel 13:37). These mourners don’t appear to be blessed in their sorrow, and their anguish is tangible. For instance, in Nehemiah 1:3-4, we read how Nehemiah mourned for days after hearing of the state of Jerusalem, fasting and praying in response to the brokenness around him.

(Nehemiah 1:3-4 NASB) “And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and disgrace, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4 Now when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

(Daniel 10:-2-3 NASB) “In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed”

In this present age, we mourn the loss of loved ones, financial setbacks, or even the difficulties of daily life. However, Jesus calls us to something deeper: spiritual mourning. This mourning is not rooted in our immediate circumstances but in a longing for His return and the coming of God's Kingdom.

Spiritual Mourning: A Longing for the Return of Jesus

(Matthew 9:14-15 NASB) “Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, ‘Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ 15 And Jesus said to them, ‘The attendants of the groom cannot mourn as long as the groom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.’”

In Matthew 9:14-15, Jesus introduces the concept of spiritual mourning, using the analogy of a bridegroom’s absence. He explains that His disciples will mourn when He is taken away from them, but this mourning will not last forever. The presence of Jesus in their midst precluded the need for fasting and mourning, but the days are coming when they will long for His return.

Jesus’ teaching about fasting, and by extension mourning, is rooted in the tension between the current age and the coming Kingdom. In the age to come, Jesus will reign as King, sitting on the throne of David (Luke 1:32-33). The kingdoms of this world, which are often governed by flawed individuals motivated by greed and power, will be replaced by God's perfect rule. In the coming age, Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:2), and those who remain faithful will receive glorified bodies, free from the decay that marks this present age (1 Corinthians 15:50-55). There will be obedience, holiness, and the knowledge of God (Jeremiah 31:33; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 11:9).

Yet, here we are, caught in the tension of the now and the not yet. We live in an age marked by sin, deceit, and suffering, and this reality often leads to a deep yearning for what is to come. The ache of this longing is what spiritual mourning looks like—living in the present age, but with our hearts fixed on eternity.

"The reality of spiritual mourning is living in the tension of being locked inside of time, yet all the while aching to touch eternity and longing to interface with the One who is divine." - Billy Humphrey

The Tension: Offense or Lovesickness?

In the absence of Jesus, we face a choice. The trials of this present age, marked by suffering, hardship, and the weight of our circumstances, can lead us to either offense or lovesickness. When we embrace a false gospel that promises an ever-improving world, we risk becoming disillusioned and offended by God when our expectations are unmet. On the other hand, when we understand mourning as a Kingdom value, we learn to anchor our hope in God’s promises, despite the challenges we face today.

Paul teaches in the book of Romans, that tribulation produces perseverance, proven character, and hope. This hope does not disappoint because it is rooted in the love of God, poured out through the Holy Spirit. Our longing for Jesus' return and the coming Kingdom is not a futile exercise; it is a hope that will one day be fulfilled. The Song of Solomon captures this deep yearning, as the bride searches for her beloved and declares, "I am lovesick." This is the cry of the Church—longing for the return of the Bridegroom.

(Romans 5:1-5 NASB) “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

(Song of Solomon 5:6-8 NASB) “I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I searched for him but I did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me. 7 The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me, they struck me and wounded me; The guards of the walls took my shawl away from me. 8 Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick.”

Comfort in Mourning

Despite the sorrow we experience in this age, Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn. Matthew 5:4 says, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." The Greek word for "comforted" here is parakaleo, meaning to call someone alongside or to encourage. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is our "Comforter" or parakletos—the One who comes alongside us to comfort and empower us as we live in the tension of longing for the Kingdom.

(John 14:16-17;26 NASB) “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper [parakletos], so that He may be with you forever; 17 the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you”

(John 16:7-15 NASB) “But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I am leaving; for if I do not leave, the Helper [parakletos] will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; 11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit in John 14 emphasizes that the Spirit is our Helper, staying with us forever. The Holy Spirit guides us into truth, convicts us of sin, and helps us live according to the will of God. He comforts us in our mourning, offering us the strength to endure in this present age while we wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises. As we grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live out the Kingdom’s values, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and patience—and engaging in the work of the Kingdom through spiritual gifts.

(Galatians 5:22-25 NASB) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.”

(1 Corinthians 12:4, 12-13 NASB) “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.…12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

Fasting: A Practical Expression of Mourning

One of the most practical ways to engage in spiritual mourning is through fasting. Fasting is not a means of manipulating God to act on our behalf, but rather a way to position ourselves to receive more of Him. It helps us cultivate a deeper longing for the return of Jesus by creating space in our hearts to commune with God.

Matthew 6 teaches that fasting should be done in secret, not to be seen by men but to draw near to God. Through fasting, we transition from complacency and dullness to a heart that is lovesick for Jesus. It’s not about a routine or a checklist, but about a sincere desire for His return and His Kingdom.

(Matthew 6:17-18 NASB) “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

A Yearning for Jesus’ Return

As we continue to live in this present age, our hearts should ache for the day when Jesus will return to make all things right. This yearning should drive us to prayer, not out of obligation, but out of a deep desire to see God’s Kingdom established on earth.

(Revelation 22:17 NASB) “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost.”

Let us embrace the value of mourning, not as a sorrow without hope, but as a deep longing for the return of the One we love. As we mourn, we are comforted by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live as Kingdom people in the here and now, even as we wait for the day when Jesus will return and make all things new.