III. That sorrow for the dead in Christ is soothed and moderated by the revelation of certain great truths concerning their present and future blessedness.—1. That death is a sleep. “Them also which sleep in Jesus” (ver. 14). The only part of man to which the figure of the text applies is the body. As to the soul, the day of death is the day of our birth into a progressive and eternal life. It is called a departure, a being with Christ—absent from the body, present with the Lord. Sleep is expressive of rest. When the toil of life’s long day is ended, the great and good Father draws the dark curtain of night and hushes His weary children to rest. “They enter into rest.” Sleep is expressive of refreshment. The body is laid in the grave, feeble, emaciated, worn-out. Then a wonderful process goes on, perceptible only to the eye of God, by which the body acquires new strength and beauty, and becomes a fit instrument and suitable residence for the glorified soul. Sleep implies the expectation of awaking. We commit the bodies of the departed to the earth in sure and certain hope of a glorious resurrection. They wait for “the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body” (Rom. viii. 23).

2. That the dead in Christ will be roused from their holy slumber and share in the glory of His second advent.—“Will God bring with Him” (ver. 14). The resurrection of the dead is a Divine work. “I will redeem them from the power of the grave” (Hos. xiii. 14). Christ will own His people in their persons, their services, and their sufferings. They shall receive His entire approval, be welcomed by Him into His everlasting kingdom, and crowned by Him with glory and the affluence of incorruptible bliss.

3. That the resurrection of Christ from the dead is a pledge of the restoration and future blessedness of all who sleep in Him.—“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (ver. 14). Christ Himself is the resurrection, not only as revealed in His Word and exemplified in His own person, but as specially appointed by the Father to effect it by His own power (John v. 25, vi. 39). The Word of God sheds a light across the darkness of the grave and opens a vista radiant with hope and immortal happiness. “Let me penetrate into Thy heart, O God,” said an afflicted saint, “and read the love that is there. Let me penetrate into Thy mind, and read the wisdom that is there; then shall I be satisfied—the storm shall be turned into calm.” A vital knowledge of Christ silences every murmur and prepares for every emergency.

Lessons.—1. An ignorant sorrow is a hopeless one. 2. To rise with Jesus we must live and die to Him. 3. Divine revelations regarding the future life greatly moderate the grief of the present.

GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES.

Vers. 13, 14. The Sleep of the Faithful Departed.

  1. The dead are said to be asleep because we know they shall wake up again.
  2. Because they whom men call dead do really live unto God.
  3. Because they are taking their rest.
  4. Death is changed to sleep, so that it becomes a pledge of rest and a prophecy of the resurrection.

Lessons.—1. We ought to mourn rather for the living than for the dead. 2. In very truth it is life rather than death that we ought to fear.—H. E. Manning.

Ver. 14. The Resurrection of the Body.

  1. The heart seeks it.
  2. The Bible declares it.
  3. The redemption of Christ secures it.—A. F. Forrest.