"Jesus wept."  John 11:35

A couple years ago the small, rural community in which I live was hit by a series of tragic teenage deaths.  It was truly heartbreaking - obviously to the families and friends closely involved, but there was an overshadowing of grief throughout the entire community.  In the light of a current loss - the son of friends of mine - I remembered this journal entry.

I am contemplating the verse in John 11:35 , "Jesus wept."

Why, Lord?  Why did you weep?  You didn't weep when you heard the news that your dear friend Lazarus had died.  You didn't even seem shocked.  You wept when you saw the sisters' mourning, when you sensed their pain.  You heard their confusion and disappointment which clouded their blossoming faith as they questioned you, "Lord, if you had only been here, our brother would not have died!"  If you had come sooner.  If you had stepped in.  If you had just stopped that truck, thwarted the gunman, let the paramedics arrive sooner.

As they led you to the tomb you wept.

What was it, Lord, that made you weep?

Because you were God in the flesh you knew that Lazarus' soul was already rejoicing, already at peace with the Father in Heaven.  You knew that death is a mere shadow, just as this life is a mere breath.  Eternity is just around the corner.  At the forefront of your mind must have been your impending death and then your glorious resurrection in which you would conquer death forever!

You also knew that in just a few moments you were going to raise Lazarus from the dead!  So, why did you weep?

It gives me comfort to know that you did.  Perhaps it was that in that moment the part of you that was fully man, fully flesh, felt for the first time the incredible human pain of loss.  You saw with eyes of mortal man the seeming finality of death.  Although your mind was Divine Creator, Sustainer, Resurrection and Life, your flesh felt the deep ache and longing of a loved one gone - never to be held or seen or heard again - and your heart grieved.

Your thoughts must have gone back to the Garden of Eden and images of what our existence was meant to be before sin, pain and death entered the world.  So you wept.  You saw your beloved ones hurting, and you felt their pain.

We are hurting today, Lord.  We are grieving.  Young lives have bee cut short in senseless tragedy.  The questions spin and swirl, and the answers come up trite.

Weep with us, dear Jesus.  let your tears fall like rains of mercy and healing.

How I wish you would go to the grave of these beloved ones and call, "Come forth!" and life would be restored!  And yet, Lord, I know that you offer HOPE for each one of us in the face of death.  You conquered death by your resurrection.  You invite ANYONE to believe in you and to accept your death on the cross as payment for his/her sin.  When we accept that forgiveness, you grant us eternal life!  We do not need to fear death!  It no longer holds power over one who has accepted your free gift of salvation.

As your children, we can know that when we take our final breath on this earth, You will hold us by the hand and usher us directly into glory, directly into the throne room.  We will not be out of your presence for one single second!  Praise you, Jesus!  Thank you!

Scriptures for further study:  Romans 3:23 ; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-10 ; John 3:16-17 ; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55