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Click to read: John 11:35-36

During this whole episode in which Jesus was talking with Martha and Mary regarding the death of their brother Lazarus, we see Jesus in a way rarely presented in scripture.  Often we read that He was “moved with compassion.”  And surely in Him the love of God was manifest fully and perfectly for everyone He met.  But many of the people He raised from the dead were people that were on the edges of the picture, people that lived their lives outside of His circle of friends.  Lazarus was different.  Jesus had confided in these people.  He had communed with them at their table in their home, probably on many occasions.

Just think about it for a minute.  Jesus had seen grief many times before.  But these were people grieving who were close friends. Surely His sorrow was compounded by the fact that He wanted Martha and Mary to simply believe in Him, but I believe the level on which He felt their sorrow was different from many of the other persons He had helped in the past.  And He wept.  He entered into their grief and sorrow.

Did that mean Jesus lost faith?  No.  He retained His power, His glory and His Lordship in the midst of it all.  It means that He truly is a caring priest, one who can be touched with the FEELING of our weaknesses.  The Jews exclaimed, “Behold how he loved him!”  I declare, “Behold how He loved US!”  By allowing Himself to be touched in this manner, He opened His saving power up to every one of us who have ever endured grief and sorrow of any kind. Behold, a perfect Savior.

Be blessed.

Craig Thompson