Jesus: Your greatest hope for your deepest sorrow

It is Well With My Soul

Kenneth W. Osbeck , in his book, 101 Hymn Stories, tells the story of the author’s circumstances that moved him to write the hymn, “It is Well.” He writes

“This beloved gospel song was written by a Chicago Presbyterian layman, Horatio G. Spafford, born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. As a young man Spafford had established a most successful legal practice in Chicago. Despite his financial success, he always maintained a keen interest in Christian activities. He enjoyed a close and active relationship with D. L. Moody and the other evangelical leaders of that era. He was described by George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, as a “man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures.”

Some months prior to the Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by this disaster. Just before this he had experienced the death of his son. Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to join and assist Moody and Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of that year, due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago; but he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S. S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days.

On November 22, the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, “Saved alone.” Shortly afterward Spafford left by ship to join his bereaved wife. It is speculated that on the sea near the area where it was thought his four daughters had drowned, Spafford penned this text with words so significantly describing his own personal grief—“When sorrows like sea billows roll …”

Death is so common to us that we tend to think it is a natural part of our life. The truth is, death was not part of the original plan. Adam and Eve were made to have abundant life. But that life was compromised the moment thy disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience brought the curse of sin to everyone and all of creation, and the wages of sin is death, both physical and spiritual. And having death invade our lives brings fear and sorrow to our hearts. Sorrow is the deep unrest in the soul over the loss of someone or something loved. Like Horatio Spafford, Sorrow is what many of you are feeling this morning over the death of Paul Dean Anderson.

But Horatio Spafford does not stay in his sorrow very long. By the time he sings the final verse of his hymn, he sounds like he is rejoicing in victory. He sings,

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight The clouds be rolled back as a scroll The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend Even so, it is well with my soul!

How does he do this? What is about the hope of Jesus that moves Stafford from sorrows like sea billows roll to the trump shall resound? The story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11 will provide an answer for us. This morning, you will see through the lens of John 11, that

Jesus is the greatest hope for your deepest sorrow.

In the story of the resurrection of Lazarus, you will see that Jesus’s greatest hope for your deepest sorrow begins with his ability to comfort you right now because he can identify with your circumstances and your sorrow.

Jesus comforts you right now because identifies with your circumstances.

Jesus connects your experience with Paul’s death with a similar experience he had with his close friend, Lazarus. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha, close disciples of Jesus. In John 11:1, Lazarus fell very ill, much like Paul did. We are not told what Lazarus illness was, but it was sever enough that it lead to death.

Mary and Martha send word to Jesus that Lazarus is really sick and they want Jesus to come quickly to heal him, John 11:2-3. Many of you may have cried out to Jesus on behalf of Paul.

In verse John 11:6, Jesus is made aware that Lazarus is ill, but decides to stay two days longer. As a result, Lazarus died. Paul died. Jesus did not do as we asked him to do. It was not that Jesus was unaware of Paul, just as Jesus was not unaware of Lazarus. Jesus had other plans.

Jesus loved Lazarus. John 11:5-6. Jesus loved Mary and Martha. He expressed his love for them by staying two extra days. That seems odd. Why wouldn’t he love them by rushing as fast as he could to heal Lazarus. Or, being that he is God, he could just say the word and the disease would leave Lazarus. Jesus loves Paul. Jesus loves the Anderson family, and all Paul’s friends. Why didn’t he respond the way we wanted him to respond? Why did he love us through such sorrow? You will see that God often uses sorrow to to express deep love for his people.

In verse 4, Jesus says that this sickness will not lead to death, but will be for the glory of God. Meaning, God was going to be glorified in Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Jesus was going to do a great work through the life and death of Lazarus. And so Jesus will do a great work through the life and death of Paul Anderson. Today, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, God may grant you a great salvation work in your heart that can change the trajectory of your earthly life and eternal life. So, Jesus is well aware of what is going on here, and he can identify with you in your circumstances.

Jesus comforts you now because he identifies with your sorrow.

Jesus arrives on the scene and Mary and Martha’s soul is experiencing deep unrest at the loss of their brother, John 11:29-32. Jesus does something absolutely remarkable in verse 33.

John 11:33 ESV

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

In other words,

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

It is likely her burst into tears. He sympathized with Mary, Martha, and he was grieved at the death of His friend. He hates what sin does to his image bearers. It sadden him to see death have such a grip on mankind.

Make no mistake about it, Jesus was fully God. In the previous chapter, Jesus declared, “I and the Father am one (John 10:30-33).” But Jesus was fully human as well. He experienced life as we experience it on earth; joy and pain, sunshine and rain. And because he experienced life in a sin ridden world, including sorrow, the Bible says,

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus sympathizes with your sorrow. He knows your soul experiences deep unrest at the loss of Paul.

Charles A. Parkhurst defined sympathy as

“ two hearts tugging at one load,” He goes on to say that, “True sympathy is usually born in sorrow.” Charles Parkhurst

Your heart does not have to tug this sorrow by itself. Jesus sympathizes with you and will comfort you and tug your load of grief with you. As you can see, Jesus begins to give you a greater hope than your deepest sorrow because he can identify with you as one who has suffered and prevailed.

But wait a minute, couldn’t have Jesus avoided all of this sorrow. Even the people watching him cry said

John 11:37 (ESV)

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

The answer is yes, he could’ve kept this man from dying. But doing so would’ve kept the fullness and everlastingness of Jesus’s greater hope a secret. In other words, the world would only see Jesus as a man, a good teacher, a wise sage, a noble rabbi, like many in this room see him today. Jesus wanted to show the world he is the greatest hope that overcomes the deepest sorrow. He has the power to conquer death, which is your sorrows greatest ally.

Jesus tells the people to remove the stone. He commands a four day dead Lazarus to walk out of that grave.

John 11:43 ESV

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

John 11:44 ESV

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Lazarus walked out of that tomb alive. He was unbound by death and let go to have life, real life. Jesus proved to Lazarus, Mary, Martha, and the world that He is

John 11:25 (ESV)

the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Friends, the hope that is a greater than your deepest sorrow is a resurrection hope.

At this point, you may say, “Well pastor, that is all good for Lazarus. But Paul is dead. He is in the coffin.” I would say, “Hold on wait a minute.”

Do you believe in heaven? Do you believe that Jesus died on that cross to atone for sinners like you and me? Do you believe God raised him from the dead three days later satisfied with his sacrifice? Do you believe that Jesus ascended into heaven where he sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for the saints? Do you believe that when you die, because of your faith in Jesus, Jesus will be the first person you see when you enter his rest, and you will rejoice? Do you believe that one day Jesus will return to restore all of heaven and earth and give us new glorified resurrected bodies that will never suffer from diabetes and liver failure again? If you hold that those precious truths, you have a hope that is greater than your deepest sorrows. You have the resurrection hope of Christ!

I asked Paul if he was trusting in Jesus in his final hours. He nodded yes. Paul’s hope in the resurrected Jesus was greater than his deepest sorrow, even the fear of death.

God loves Paul. God loves everyone of you. And he demonstrated his love for you in that while you are a sinner, he sent his Son to die for you. His love moved him to endure deep sorrow, the sorrow of death on a cross, in order to offer you a greater hope. But this hope is only for those who repent of their sin and put their faith in Jesus’s life, death, resurrection and ascension. You must trust Jesus for the atonement of your sin, otherwise you will perish in hell, your greatest sorrow. If Paul was given a chance, much like Lazarus, to come back for a minute, he would tell you Jesus is every bit the Messiah King he claims to be. Trust Him. Treasure Him. Hope in Him.

Horatio Spafford suffered in this life, deep sorrow. But he does not dwell on the theme of life’s sorrows and trials in his hymn, but his hope was in Jesus, the one who died on a cross and rose from the dead so that he could have eternal life. Jesus is your greatest hope in your deepest sorrow. If that is true for you, then, you can sing “It is Well with my soul.”