Hello friends! Here is an excerpt from my “Journey through Lent” for this week. Please email me for the image and/or whole meditation: BjellandBarbara@gmail.com
More ministry resources and fine art on my website at: https://www.BarbaraBjelland.com
Jesus Wept
Read John 11:1-45
Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus was ill, yet Jesus delayed in coming to see him. Jesus arrived after Lazarus had been dead for four days. When Jesus arrived, Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha said to him, “If you had been here, our brother would not have died.” Then Jesus went to the tomb.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:35, 36)
"‘Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go. (John 11:43, 44)”’
As we journey with Jesus, we will at times walk with him through death and new life, endings and beginnings, into the light of God’s kingdom. In today’s reading, Mary and Martha are in deep in shock and grief, and likely were angry with Jesus. They knew Jesus loved them, but wondered why Jesus allowed this to happen.
Like Mary and Martha, we often ask “why?” In John 11, Jesus said Lazarus’ death was for God’s glory, and he raised Lazarus from the dead. Yet we know that there are many stories that don’t have happy endings. There are many things we won’t understand until we see Jesus face to face. At that time we will know in full, as we are fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12). Until that time, we can ask questions, we can grieve and lament.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” This is a great verse to hold in our hearts. In our grief, we can know that Jesus is always with us and has compassion. Christ suffers when we suffer, and Christ can lift us up each day (Hebrews 13:5; Isaiah 63:9). We can depend on the Holy Spirit to sustain us, and to guide us in showing compassion to others. Jesus says to us, as he said to Lazarus:
“Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light” (Ephesians 5:14).
Our Lord promises to give us beauty for ashes and for mourning, a garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3). That is better than grave clothes! Will you, like Lazarus, awake and come out from all that is “dead,” when Christ calls your name? Christ knows your name, and he is calling you now!
Reclining at Jesus’ Table
Jesus went to visit Lazarus, Mary, and Martha again, right before he turned toward Jerusalem and the cross. While Jesus was with his friends, they shared a meal. (Jesus shared a lot of meals with people!) Lazarus reclined at the table with Jesus (John 12:2). In Jesus’ day, sharing meals together was an intimate time of fellowship. They reclined on cushions, facing low tables, and took time to be together as they shared food.
This word for “recline” is the same word that is used of the disciples reclining with Jesus at the Last Supper (Luke 22:14). Jesus’ friends leaned into Jesus and could hear his heartbeat of love. The result of redemption is restoration of our relationship with God and one another. Jesus desires to have a close intimate relationship with each one of us, now and forever.
Jesus wants each of us to recline and rest in his love.
Join the discussion!
How can you “lean close to Jesus” and listen to his heartbeat of love?
How can you return Jesus’ love with your love? (1 John 4:19)
I welcome your thoughts, questions, and comments! Thanks!