Yesterday my husband and I were discussing what we think are the saddest scriptures in the Bible, those that evoke tears of grief and pull great strands of empathy from the core, the belly of our being.
My husband spoke of the story of Lazarus where Jesus weeps. Do you remember why he wept? If you said because the one He loved, Lazarus, had fallen asleep as in death, then let's back up just a little to John 11:32-33.
When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (This Mary was the one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair.--verse 11:2)
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.
Lazurus' death was not a shock to Jesus. He knew exactly what He had planned for Lazarus as stated in verse 11 of chapter 11: ....."Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."
So we see that Jesus' tears were not because of Lazarus' death but He was deeply touched by Mary's grief. Even though He knew Lazarus was going to come forth from the grave shortly, His love and compassion overtook Him and He wept. What amazing love!
Romans 8:34 says: Christ Jesus, who died—-more than that, who was raised to life-—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Jesus is no respecter of persons--as He looked upon Mary and felt her suffering grief, so He looks upon us with the same compassion and we know He is praying for us because scripture tells us so.
So what could be a very sad series of verses should fill us with deep joy because Jesus--right now--is praying for us.
In the quiet, in the stillness, I think I just heard Him call your name.
I long to have this kind of love, compassion, and empathy for all people, especially my friends.
