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."When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:32-37)
REFLECTION
If you had been here... Mary’s bitter words imply that she thinks that Jesus could and would have prevented the death of her brother Lazarus. Maybe she was right – but maybe not. Look at Jesus’ reply to this statement. Does he say that Mary is right and that he would have cured Lazarus if only he had been there to heal him?
We just don’t know the answer to many of life’s difficult questions. I think that Jesus did not comment on Mary’s statement because he loved her so much. Mary expressed her sadness, her anger and her disappointment to her Master, and the Master didn’t argue with her. Instead he also shows his emotions and cries with the people he loves so much. Deeply moved in spirit and troubled – he only asks this practical question: “Where have you laid him?”
Jesus wept. These tears were tears of sadness and tears of love. I am sure Jesus had many reasons to cry – and we can only guess what moved him so deeply. Maybe he cried because of the sin in this world that causes so much pain and sadness. Maybe he cried because of the suffering and mourning that he witnessed all around him. I believe he cried because he was fully God and fully human and had emotions just like us. I believe that some of his tears were a silent response to the painful questions and bitter remarks he heard all around him.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I believe that your tears are part of our healing process. I believe that the fact that you were deeply moved in spirit and troubled – is a great comfort for all suffering and mourning people. It must have been such a comfort for Lazarus’s sisters that you shared in their pain. Please help us to remember your tears each time we are confronted with other people’s tears. We want to cry with them and we want to be silent when some people only express their emotions of disappointment and bitterness. We don’t want to give easy answers, we do want to show our vulnerability and sadness. You don't mind if we ask our own difficult questions. Above all, we want to cry your tears too.
Jesus, one day we will all die. Of course we are hoping that you will be here before that happens, but generations of people have passed away already and we don’t know how or when you will call us home. But I trust that we will see you on the other side and that you are loving and powerful enough to raise us up to an eternal life where there will be no place for tears or bitter complaints. You are the Resurrection and the Life. Amen
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3 comments:
I have experienced Mary’s tears, and been bitterly envious of the joy of Lazarus’ resurrection, but completely missed that Jesus wept. Thanks for pointing that out. It makes all the difference in the world.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4
I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. John 16:20
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Hebrews 5:7
...we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 1 Thessalonians 13
Thanks. Excellent and comforting words. You are so gifted at ministry, Paul.
The Romans passage really resonates with me. I sometimes think there's something wrong with me that I get so upset when others suffer.
One of my prayer partners is waiting to hear the results of a tumor biopsy today. (The other one already has advanced metastatic breast cancer.) I get to the point where I absolutely can't stand any more suffering among my friends and family. And THAT blows me away about Jesus. Because the suffering he took on for the world is what I experience multiplied by BILLIONS. And he didn't complain, but I can't help it.
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