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The stark reality of life is this that each one of us will die, no exceptions. We have this disease that’s called mortality here in Australia. Every single day, about 300 people will die. And those who know say around about 6000 people will grieve the death of those who die. So these are sad statistics. We can’t escape it. It was in August 2000 that a Russian submarine and its crew sank in the ocean. The rescue team reached out and found them at the bottom of the ocean. And the rescue team tapped a message on the hull. Is there any life inside?

And then back came the reply in morse code, Is there any hope for dismal words?

And that’s the message that many people are asking today. Is there any hope? Life has become full of materialism, selfishness? People are looking for real answers. They want to know the answers to questions like, Is there any real purpose to life? And what difference does my life make anyway? Will I be missed when I die? These are the real questions and we can stop and reflect this morning on the fact that God has the answers seen in the life of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells a story about one day during a time of family sadness, Jesus said to a woman he knew Martha. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. That’s from John, Chapter 11,

And Jesus was speaking here about spiritual living. Even though we die physically, he said, we will live on wonderful words there. Whoever lives spiritually and believes in him will never die, even though there will be a physical death. And Martha said to Jesus, Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ the son of God, who has come into the world with faith in Jesus Christ. Death is not the final curtain, so to speak, because Jesus offers us eternal life.

And the message being tapped out from the sailors trapped in that Russian submarine. Is there any hope? Yes. Even in time of death in the New Testament, Paul told Timothy, our Saviour Christ Jesus has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel – 2 Timothy 1:10. When someone we know or love dies, we do feel great sadness and disappointment that we won’t be seeing them again, and we call that grief.

Jesus understood very well what grief is like.

He had a friend named Lazarus who died. But today, when 300 people die, there will be grief and crying and confused emotions. And maybe, you know someone who died yesterday, and that’s why, generally speaking, people don’t like cemeteries or crematorium buildings. They are sad places because each death involves grief. And we who care for the person who died must express grief in some way.

That’s the way God has made us. Our tears are an expression of our sorrow, and grieving is a natural part of healing. Jesus himself showed grief when Mary spoke to Jesus. Mary, that was, Martha’s sister, said quite sharply to “Jesus Lord, If you’d been here, my brother would not have died.” And when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along, also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit. “Where have you laid him?” He asked. Come and see they’d reply.

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And the Bible says that Jesus wept. And those standing around the Jewish people said, see how he loved him. So Jesus shows us the significance of grief. In the days of Jesus, there was always three days of unrestrained wailing that continued for another four days of deep sorrow as people mourned a friends passing.

And that was a normal custom back then. And if you’ve been to a funeral, you would have noticed people offering comfort to the bereaved. And that’s a good thing. At these times, we do try to comfort one another. It’s a fact of life that sharing with others not only involves the good times, the laughter, but also the tears.

We could say, ‘Well, only a child cries’ and I’ve heard people say to children, ‘Stop crying, how foolish.’ Jesus cried like a man, and our tears are God’s release for our sorrow.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, we do need to try and get a good understanding of death. We don’t like talking about it, but Lord, it’s a reality for about 300 people every day. I know it’s going to happen to me and my friends and my family. May I be prepared and ready? And in the meantime, Lord, may I show Christian compassion and love to those who are mourning. Today I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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