Today's readings: Psalms 54; 146, Proverbs 4:1-27, 1 John 4:7-21, John 11:30-44
When Sunday school students are assigned to memorize Bible verses, John 11:35 is especially popular because in many translations it is the Bible’s shortest verse: “Jesus wept.” Generally it’s chosen more for novelty than theological significance, but pound-for-pound it may be the most profound statement about God’s love for us in all of scripture.
Why did Jesus weep? We must understand the context of the verse to know. Jesus was returning to Bethany because his dear friend Lazarus, brother of Mary and Martha, had died. Jesus was greatly disturbed when Mary said if he had been there, Lazarus would not have died. As she showed him to the tomb, others made similar comments that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’s death. At this point Jesus became greatly disturbed again and wept.
We might think Jesus was grieving over his friend, but he had known for days that Lazarus was dead – and would be rising again. We might think he was weeping in sympathy for Mary, Martha and others. This particular interpretation may be comforting, but the original Greek phrasing suggests something else. When we read Jesus was “greatly disturbed in Spirit and deeply moved” (v 33), we need to understand the original Greek points not to sadness, but to indignation or chagrin. Jesus was upset that even those closest to him still understand neither who he was, nor the life God offered through him.
The weeping of an angry Jesus may at first seem disappointing or even unsettling. On reflection, what seemed like a humanizing, relatable moment may begin to feel like condemnation. Upon further consideration though, how can we not be touched by the idea that God deeply desires a relationship with us on a level that is so primal our inability to conceive of it frustrates Christ to tears? At one time or another all of us have been frustrated, also sometimes to tears, by a loved one who just seems lost. We want them to be whole and well. Christ loves us so much that he doesn’t just want to cry with us, but to help us understand how God’s love can lift us from this vale of tears to a place of peace.
Evening reading: Evening Psalms 28; 99
Today's readings: Ps 96, 148; Jer 31:1-14; Col 2:8-23; Luke 7:1-17
Today in Luke we read two short healing stories. Luke offers us many healing stories, but these two have particular lessons for us. Unlike the stories where a faithful woman touches Jesus’ garment (8:40-47), or a blind beggar calls out to him (18:25-42), the characters in today’s story are healed because of Jesus’ work through others
A Roman centurion who was too humbled to petition Jesus directly on behalf of a beloved servant. Instead, he sent Jewish elders and then friends to tell Jesus he had faith that if Jesus willed it, the servant would be healed; he didn’t need to impose a face-to-face meeting. When we pray or intercede for others, are we as wise and humble as the centurion? When we see an ailing co-worker, or a friend in a bad marriage, are we tempted to “fix” things? If so, we may think we need to pray or work hard enough to “convince” God to act. The truth is none of us can fix anyone else, and God will act as God will. Like the centurion and his friends, often the best we can do is to stand ready to let God use us. This is not a passive state – it is a decision to trust and to be open to possibility.
Jesus encountered a widow grieving her only son. His heart went out to the woman, and he commanded the son to rise from his funeral bier. Compassion is a powerful tool for God to use in the world. We may be unlikely to witness someone raised from the dead, but even in our greatest grief, God’s presence can spark new life. Consider John and Reve Walsh who, after the murder of their son Adam, founded the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Compassion both for the Walshes and from them made such an endeavor possible.
So are we to jump from cause to cause and expect miraculous results from every prayer dashed off on our way to the next one? Of course not. Such a life would be shallow and ultimately frustrating. But we learn from the centurion and the widow that we may knowingly or unknowingly become God’s instruments for someone else’s healing. Our faith life does not unfold in just our own lives, but in the lives of those around us. Let’s be alert and open to the time God chooses us to bring others to new life.
Comfort: God’s compassion is boundless.
Challenge: Pray for God to open your eyes to needs you might address.
Prayer: God of Freedom, thank you for the opportunity to serve.
Evening readings: Ps 49, 138
Discussion Question: When do you feel has God used you in someone's life, or used someone else in yours? (please comment)
