![]() “For he does not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men” ( Lamentations 3:33). But this did not mean Jesus took the suffering it caused lightly. ![]() He had really good and merciful and glorious reasons for doing that. It is true that by not speaking healing from a distance like he did for the centurion’s servant ( Matthew 8:13) or by his delay in coming ( John 11:6) he had let Lazarus die. ![]() One reason is simply the deep compassion that Jesus felt for those who were suffering. But he was “greatly troubled” ( John 11:33) and he wept. So one would think that Jesus would be a confident, joyful calm in that storm of sorrow. He had come to Bethany to bring these mourners the best news they could have imagined. He knew that in a few short minutes all this weeping would turn to astonished joy, and then tearful laughter, and then worship. Do you believe?Įditor’s Note: This article was originally published at that Jesus had come to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus can help you.Īfter declaring that he is the resurrection and the life, Jesus asked Martha, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26) Jesus issues this call to personal, present-tense, and persevering faith to you and me. There is the living hope in our risen Savior. He who is the resurrection and the life takes those who believe in a world where there is no more sin, despair, and suffering. In resuscitating Lazarus, Jesus brought his dear friend back to a world of sin, suffering, and sorrow. Lazarus was restored to life and became a walking testimony that of the difference Jesus makes. “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:44). Death is no real threat to the one who trusts in Jesus.Īt the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus gave three commands. Standing before a giant scoreboard that flashed “Death Wins,” Jesus declared himself to be Lord over life, death, and the afterlife (John 11:25-26). Yet Jesus wept before he did something about the situation. We can often do nothing more to comfort the hurting. Jesus wept before he performed a miracle. Paul exhorts the saints to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15b). He cares for you! Peter bids us to be “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). The compassionate heart of Jesus has not changed. Jesus wept because he cared about sin that causes pain, death, and death. Jesus wept because he cared about the dead – Lazarus. Jesus wept because he cared. As Jesus wept, the people said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36) Jesus wept because he cared about the living – Mary and Martha. Christians do not sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The tears of Jesus remind us that it is not unspiritual to weep, grieve, and mourn. The Lord prayed to the Father with tears in his eyes. We pray filter prayers rather than praying candidly. Jesus wept as our example. We short-circuit our prayers because we do not pray candidly. Yet with all Jesus knew, he was still moved to tears by the situation. Furthermore, Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus also knew that the death of Lazarus would bring glory to the Father. You knew where your loved one is.” Jesus knew Lazarus was in a place where sickness afflicted him no more. Jesus wept, despite what he knew. Well-meaning Christians say to the grieving, “Don’t cry. When life makes you cry, you are in good company! Yet the one who was God enough to raise the dead was man enough to weep with the grieving. Jesus wept as a man. John records seven miraculous “signs” that prove the deity of Jesus. Raising Lazarus from the dead is the final and climactic miracle Jesus performed that identifies him as God in the flesh. It is an ocean of truth in a teaspoon of words. The verse is short in words but long in meaning. At this point, John reports a remarkable detail: “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. They led Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb, where he would work a miracle. Jesus took charge of the situation, asking, “Where have laid him?” (John 11:34). Here Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (John 11:33). Unlike his encounter at Jairus’ house, Jesus does not question the mourning of the grieving community (Mark 5:39). Mary fell at the feet of Jesus, consumed with grief. Then Jesus talked with Lazarus’ other sister, Mary. In the ensuing conversation, Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). When he finally arrived in Bethany, Lazarus’ sister Marth confronted him. The passage begins with a conversation Jesus has with his disciples about the sickness and death of Lazarus. John tells the story in a series of conversations. John 11 records the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
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