Children would cry immediately when they are grieved and learn to hold it back as they grow older. As we grow in love and compassion, we also begin to grieve for other people’s misery, even to the point of shedding tears. For example, a mother would weep for her suffering children, and a touching movie would move many audiences to tears. In general, such strong emotional outbreaks are rare, as a sixteenth century Chinese author put it, “A man is always reserved in shedding his tears, because they are like blood from his wounded heart.” If you see an invincible warrior weeping, there must be a very touching story behind this rare scene. The long history of mankind has produced many touching stories, both real and imaginative. By all accounts, there is only one most touching story, and a true story, which stands as heaven above earth when comparing to all the rest. So touching, that it’s the only time recorded in the Bible when the incarnate Son of God, Jesus wept. (Jn. 11:35 ESV)
I was greatly puzzled by why Jesus wept at that moment. According to those who were present, So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (Jn. 11:36 ESV) They said that because they were ignorant. Jesus already knew Lazarus was dead. He even told His disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” (Jn. 11:11 ESV) He set out on a mission to bring a happy ending to this sad event, but why did Jesus weep before he raised Lazarus to life?
At Jesus’ late arrival, both sisters repeated the same greetings to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (Jn. 11:21, 32 ESV) There were complaints in these words. Only people close to each other would be frank like that. Only friends would expect with such an urgency. But Jesus did not apologize, He told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (Jn. 11:25-27 ESV) She left right after these words, and her body language revealed that she did not understand what Jesus meant. Her sister Mary was more outright than her. She complained to Jesus in tears. When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” (Jn. 11:33-434 ESV) As soon as he heard this reply, Jesus wept. (Jn. 11:35 ESV)
When Jesus said He is the resurrection, Martha did not understand it; When Jesus asked the weeping crowd where they laid him, they did not get the hint either. Of course, Jesus knew exactly where the corpse was laid. Not long ago, four men carried a paralytic on a stretcher, and they broke through a roof to lay the sick before Jesus, because they believed Jesus is the healing. If there was one person in the crowd believed Jesus is the resurrection, he would waste no time for tears, but would run to the cemetery, break down the grave, carry the corpse and lay it under Jesus’ feet. Faith in Jesus would set your feet upon an unbelievable journey. Jesus wept, because even people who loved Him, would rather believe in death, than to believe He is the resurrection. Therefore, after shedding His tears for those He loved, Jesus would go on to shed His blood, until they truly believe that He is the resurrection and the life. Today, If you do believe, then wipe away tears from your face, and invite Jesus to the grave in your heart, and let Him call your name and resurrect your long buried hope of eternal life, and there will never be a funeral of this world for you. What Jesus asked Martha, He asks everyone He loves, everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? (Jn. 11:26 ESV) And Jesus’ rebuke to Martha, is a rebuke to us, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (Jn. 11:40 ESV) He might be late in coming to you, but it surely worth the wait, because his late arrival means what you asked for is too small!
Prayer: O Lord! You are the resurrection and the life! We complain and we weep, because we do not believe your power of resurrection. Increase our faith, that we may carry all the dry bones from our heart and lay them bare before your feet and see the glory of God!
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