Blogging through the #Gospels: True Compassion. John 11

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading:   John 11

Scripture:


 While I spent a good deal of time researching verse 51 -- Caiaphas "prophesying," and all of that, it was not the verse that spoke to me again today, as nearly every time I read this chapter.

John 11: 35

Jesus wept.


Observations:


Mary and Martha are like sisters to Jesus.
Lazarus was like a brother.
Yet, he stayed away two more days after receiving the word that Lazarus ill.
By the time He and his disciples actually arrived back in Judea, Lazarus had indeed passed away, and had been in the tomb four days.

Separately the sisters run to Him, mourning and crying out that if He had been there, Lazarus would still be alive.

Even knowing what He was about to do -- even though He knew that in moments the tears of mourning would become tears of happiness, His heart still moved for the pain of His people.

Application:

When we lost our second child in the early stages of pregnancy, through the worst sequence of events that I could have ever imagined, I felt Him.  I prayed for Him to spare my child.  I prayed for everything to miraculously be set right.  I wept. Oh how I wept.   And when the dust settled after the words "ectopic pregnancy" were introduced, I could feel Jesus sustaining me.  And when the tears came again, I knew that He was weeping with me, for my grief, wishing that He could take it from me.

When a loved one suffers from cancer- Jesus is there.

When a baby is a victim of SIDS - Jesus is there.

When natural disasters strike, and all is lost - Jesus is there.

We can understand being comforted in situations beyond our control.
But when we are the reason for the difficulties we are facing?

As human beings with "free will," we often get into situations that are our own fault.
And since we have a Just and Holy God, we have to deal with the consequences of our sin.  And sometimes it gets really painful.

I John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us, and purify us from unrighteousness.

And Romans 8:1 tells us that there is no longer any condemnation from sin that has been forgiven.

But Jesus is more than just a forgiver of sins.
He is the sympathetic friend, the compassionate listener.
Even forgiven, we still have to live in and dwell in the circumstances we created by our sin.

He can wipe the slate clean, but it is not a magical reset button that affects everything around us.  And since He can't take it all away, He weeps with us.

Oh how blessed we are!
Thank you, oh my Father - for giving us your Son!

Prayer:


Lord,
Thank you for the reminders of how you carry us through the storm.

You are so much more than we deserve.
I am in awe.

Amen.