When a child has died

The short answer

The Bible does not hurry parents past this grief. Matthew’s Gospel remembers mothers who could not be comforted, because their children were gone.

Jesus wept at a friend’s grave. And when children were brought to him, he took them in his arms and blessed them.

In the Gospels

1. Matthew 2:16–18

   Rachel weeping

   After Herod’s massacre in Bethlehem, Matthew quotes the prophet: a mother weeping for her children, refusing comfort.

   Read Matthew 2:16–18

   ¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   The Wise Men, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

2. John 11:32–36

   Jesus wept

   At the tomb of his friend Lazarus, Jesus weeps with the family.

   Read John 11:32–36

   ³² Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” ³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, ³⁴ and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.” ³⁵ Jesus wept. ³⁶ The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   Jesus Raises Lazarus, scene by scene on Free Scripture→

3. Mark 10:13–16

   In his arms

   Jesus takes children in his arms and blesses them, and says the kingdom of God belongs to them.

   Read Mark 10:13–16

   ¹³ They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, “Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.” ¹⁶ He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

   World English Bible, public domain. The whole chapter on Free Scripture → · Read in the NRSVue, the ELCA’s standard translation →

   Jesus Blesses the Children, scene by scene on Free Scripture→