Any clever Sunday school student knows to look to John 11 when it’s time for mandatory scripture memorization. It’s the shortest verse in the Bible, in most translations, yet it’s packed with such a huge message about who Jesus is and how God loves us. Two little words – Jesus wept.
Jesus has been roaming around healing people and performing miracles, but when he hears that his friend Lazarus has fallen ill and died, he doesn’t rush to the rescue like everyone expects. He says Lazarus is “sleeping,” even though he knows that he has died, because Jesus knows that this death is not permanent and that Lazarus will walk again. When he finally walks into town, Lazarus’ sisters greet him. Martha trusts that Jesus has a plan to revive her brother, but Mary reacts to Jesus’ delayed arrival with the expected, fearful hysteria of a grieving sister. She isn’t joyful that Jesus has finally arrived, but angry that he waited so long because now it is too late. Mary’s hope has run out.
Jesus has a plan though. He didn’t walk all the way to Bethany four days late to attend a funeral, but to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew when he got there that Lazarus was dead (but not for long). Yet he stops and weeps with Mary and the others grieving at the tomb. He’s not crying because he’s sad about his dead friend – he knows that’s about to change. Why does he cry, then? Jesus stops to be with Mary, Martha, and their friends in their time of deepest sorrow.
When all seems dark and hopeless, instead of swooping in and fixing things, Jesus meets us in our moment of pain before fulfilling the promises that God has made to God’s people.
This aspect of Jesus’ ministry is so crucial to our understanding of God and God’s place in the world. To know a God who loves us enough to stop and cry with us, knowing full and well that the grief will be alleviated in a matter of minutes—to feel the love of God who sits with us in ICU waiting rooms, on the snowy sidewalk, or alone in our homes—this is a God we need behind us as we attempt to carry out our ministries, bringing hope to the hopeless.
We don’t have to have experienced a person’s pain to sit with them in solidarity. Jesus shows us how to join a person where they are, to love them because they are hurting; and that’s enough. Unfortunately, we can’t always heal the sick or bring back loved ones, but we can be reminders of God’s eternal presence by imitating Jesus and sitting with others in their sorrow. We are made to love, whatever the circumstances, and love we shall.
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This is so beautiful, and a new concept on this scripture..never thought of it this way..
Thank you so much for your comments …
Blessings,
Beth
While we may not have known the person that has passed but know and love the person suffering the loss that their sorrow and pain becomes ours. Sometimes speechless our heart breaks with those suffering. Perhaps this is the best expression of caring–our ability to lament with them.
I love that — “the best expression of caring [may be] our ability to lament with them.” Thank you!!
Beth