Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson: John 11:33-35

 March 28

"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." -John 11:33-35 (NIV)

All of us will eventually stand at the graveside of someone we love. Details vary, but the reality is universal. Grieving families gather at gravesides as friends and family struggle for words. When death is unexpected, the "whys" can hover like thick fog. John tells us in today's scripture of a funeral in Bethany for a good friend of Jesus named Lazarus who had died. His brief sickness was stronger than medicine. Jesus had been notified of the illness but had not arrived in time. Drawn by grief, many people had come from the surrounding towns to offer last respects to Lazarus of Bethany and his family. When Jesus appeared at Lazarus's funeral in Bethany, Martha and Mary were weeping for their brother. Grief-stricken, they struggled to understand why Jesus had delayed in coming.

Yet John stresses we have a Lord who loves and cares. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he did not lecture, find excuses, or express disapproval. Rather he joined in the grief and wept openly. He empathized with their grief before he finally healed Lazarus and raised him from the dead. By this action, Jesus showed us he always cares enough to weep with us in our grief and sorrow. This is unlike the stoic pagan Gods with no emotions that were popular then. Here we see many of Jesus' emotions including sorrow, grief, compassion, and even frustration. Jesus showed deep feelings yet remained fully God and fully human. Therefore, we should never be afraid to share our feelings with him. We can rest assured our Lord understands all our complex emotions since he experienced them. Be honest, and don't try to hide anything from your Savior. The Lord of all Love is still with you always!

Prayer: Father God, Thank you for accepting me as I am. I offer you my feelings, sorrows, fears, and tears. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God's tears heal.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Spring Renewal Paperback – February 21, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)