John 11.35 is often quoted as the shortest verse in the Bible – ‘Jesus wept’ – but in actual fact that honour should really go to Job 3.2 which simply states, ‘He said’ [less strokes on a keyboard!] However, ‘He said’ is a lot less interesting.
Task: Take some time to consider this story where Jesus is moved to tears. Take some time today to express some grief for something. It might be a family you know who has recently experienced loss or a friend who is going through a really rough time. It might be the hectic piece of news you heard last night [the missing plane or yet another violent school encounter] or even a larger issue such as government corruption, human-trafficking, extreme poverty or war.
30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Take some time to really grieve. To lift that thing or person or people to God and just invite the tears and just spend some time mourning for a good while.
Then remember that Jesus has that stuff. All of it. That is why He came. That is why He died. Take a moment to celebrate on that.
[For this weekend’s Lent Observance posts, click here]
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