Thursday, December 20, 2012

Heart Break


Jesus wept. -John 11:35 (NIV)

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, becomes ill. Mary and Martha immediately send word to their dear friend, Jesus. Jesus, upon hearing the news, acknowledges that this illness will not end in death and then does not make his way to Mary and Martha for two more days.

By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus has died. Both Mary and Martha tell Jesus that their brother would not have died had Jesus come right away to help. Jesus assures Martha that Lazarus will rise again because Jesus is "the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me (Jesus), even though they die, yet shall they live." Yet even though Jesus knows that Lazarus will live again, he is nevertheless moved to tears by his friend's death.

The verse on which I have chosen to reflect this morning is mostly known for being the shortest verse in the Bible. If you ever need to memorize a scripture verse, this is the one. And yet what strikes me about the verse is not that it's so short but that's it so revealing.

Jesus, the son of God, who has the power to make the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead rise, is arguably so overcome with grief following his dear friend's death that he cries. Jesus, who knows more than anyone else that death is not the final chapter, is nonetheless stung when it hits close to home.

With last Friday's tragedy in Connecticut still fresh on my mind, I find that the tears are still flowing for me. I can only imagine what it's been like for the families and friends of the victims. I'm sure that some well-meaning but ill-timed comment has been made to them like: "Don't cry. Your loved one is in a better place." I believe that with all of my heart, that even though these those teachers and students died, they live. I believe then and now that in Christ death has been swallowed up in victory. And yet, the tears still come. Oh how they come! And indeed oh how they should.

Today I pray that God would grant all who grieve the grace to trust that the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, and Everlasting Father knows what it's like to have a heart broken by death. He cries, thus validating your tears. And he goes one step further by promising that even though our loved ones die, yet shall they live.



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If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, tomorrow's suggested readings are John 12-14.

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