![]() ![]() On one occasion, Christ's first visit to Bethany, Martha, preparing the meal, went to Him, saying, “Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.” Jesus answered her with mild and patient words, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Mary was storing her mind with words from the Saviour's lips, words more precious to her than earth's most costly jewels. HLv 350.3Īs Christ gave His wonderful lessons, Mary sat at His feet, a reverent and devoted listener. But the multitudes were slow of hearing, and in the home at Bethany Christ found rest from the weary conflict of public life. HLv 350.2Īs the multitudes followed Christ through the open fields, He unfolded to them the beauties of the natural world. Here He found a sincere welcome and pure, holy friendship. When weary, thirsting for human fellowship, He had been glad to escape to this peaceful household. HLv 350.1Īt the home of Lazarus, Jesus often found rest. The Saviour loves all the human family, but to some He is bound by peculiarly tender associations. For Lazarus the greatest of Christ's miracles was performed. ![]() How appropriate, then, that Jesus set an example of showing sympathy for the bereaved by sincerely shedding tears even though he was about to raise Lazarus.This chapter is based on Luke 10:38-42 John 11:1-44.Īmong the most steadfast of Christ's disciples was Lazarus of Bethany, and he was greatly loved by the Saviour. 12:15) Expressing such grief does not indicate that a person lacks faith in the resurrection hope. Likewise, our empathy may move us to “weep with people who weep.” ( Rom. Still, he gave way to tears, moved by his deep love and compassion for his friends. Jesus knew that he was going to resurrect Lazarus. Another lesson we can learn from this account is that we should have compassion for those who are grieving over the death of their loved ones. It also helps us to appreciate that Jesus has fellow feeling for those who have lost loved ones to Adamic death. This account demonstrates that Jesus has the power and ability to bring our loved ones back to life and health in the coming new world. When Jesus met Lazarus’ sister Mary and saw her and others weeping, he “groaned in the spirit and became troubled.” Seeing their pain moved Jesus to feel hurt to the point of ‘groaning in the spirit.’ That was why “Jesus gave way to tears.” It greatly saddened Jesus to see his beloved friends stricken with grief. What, then, moved Jesus to give way to tears? Again, the context provides the answer. So there was no reason for him to be pained over Lazarus’ death itself. That is why he told them that he was “journeying there to awaken from sleep.” ( John 11:11) To Jesus, raising Lazarus from death would be like a parent waking his child from a nap. In his discussion with his disciples on this occasion, Jesus compared death to a sleeplike state. ![]() Jesus intended to use Lazarus’ death “for the glory of God.” How? Jesus was about to perform a spectacular miracle by raising his dear friend from the grave. He said: “This sickness is not with death as its object, but is for the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” ( John 11:4) Death was not the “object,” or end result, of Lazarus’ sickness. The account says: “When heard that was sick, then he actually remained two days in the place where he was.” ( John 11:6) Why did Jesus delay? He had a purpose in doing so. When Jesus first heard that Lazarus was sick, he did not rush to Lazarus’ bedside to cure him. He shed tears out of compassion for the bereaved, as indicated by the context of John’s account. Though he had affection for Lazarus, Jesus did not give way to tears because Lazarus died. When a loved one dies, we naturally shed tears because we will miss him. ![]()
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