June 8 - Feel Free to Cry

Read John 11:17-35

Context: Jesus had been told that his friend Lazarus was very ill, and he planned to visit so that Lazarus could be healed. However, for the sake of God's glory, he waited two more days before making the day long trip to Bethany.

Text:
17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles[a] from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."
24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
27"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ,[b] the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32When 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."
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35Jesus wept. (NIV)

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Even thought he knew that the outcome of this situation would be miraculous, Jesus was still moved to tears by the pain of his friends. He could have chided them for their disbelief or he could have told them gently not to cry because everything would be ok. He could have even gotten defensive when they tried to place the blame on him, since 'if (he) had been (there) my brother would not have died." He could easily have retorted that everyone expected him to fix everything.

Instead he pushed his knowledge and selfish and defensive feelings aside (well, he might not have had those selfish or defensive feelings, but I know I would have!). Instead he looked at others and allowed himself to be vulnerable to their pain and loss.

Often times we try to be stoic in the face of others difficulties. Sometimes the best comfort for others is to see that you, too, hurt because of the situation.