David Bahn – Reflections

Isaiah 40:1-5

¹ Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. ² Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. ³ A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

⁵ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (ESV)

Today is to be a day of comfort for our family. We feel great sadness as we remember how this fierce disease battled against Nici, and ultimately took her life. We hurt as we look into a future that is without her here with us. But there is comfort in the face of these griefs and losses. God’s people, our friends and family will gather with us for a memorial service. We will sing hymns. We will read Scripture. We will hear a message of hope and victory. We will be comforted by those God sends our way.

God comforts us. He sends people to speak tenderly to those who hurt. He invites those who have been in battle to stand down. He assures us that our iniquity has been pardoned. He tells us that He is coming to be with us; to clear the way for Him.

God is going to do some remarkable things. Strongholds will be torn down. Weak knees will be strengthened. Harsh worldly realities will be softened. And in place of the ignominy and shame will be the glory of God.

While we suffer here – there still are wildernesses and deserts – there is a voice that calls out. That voice is the voice of God. He has spoken – in the real human voice of Jesus – and when God speaks light overpowers darkness, worlds are created, waters are gathered, and now sins are forgiven and hope is established. We are comforted.

These words, among the many that Matt and Nici chose for this time, are especially comforting to me today:

John 10:27-28

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  (ESV)

John 11:21-27

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” ²³ Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” ²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷ She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (ESV)

John 12:23-26

And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. (ESV)

During this Advent season, may the comfort of God’s word and grace sustain you and compel you to offer comfort to others:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.