I’ve wondered about something for a long time. If Jesus knew that Lazurus’ sickness would not end in death, that He would raise Him, why did He join the group cry when Lazurus died?
“When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazaarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” John 11:4-6
Sitting with Grief
A mighty God, came to earth wrapped in a fragile human frame. He experienced everything that we did but without sin. That’s why He could become the sacrifice for our sins. When He stood among His grieving friends, He wept. It’s the only account in the Bible of Jesus crying. It wasn’t for show; it was authentic. They were tears of empathy, compassion, and loss for that moment. Although He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He sat with grief, sadness, and loss. In doing this, He showed us who He was and set a valuable example.
“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35
Giving Space to Our Friends
Though it might be difficult, uncomfortable, we need to sit with our grief and sadness. God doesn’t want us to live there, but He acknowledged it, He held space and time for it. If we know if things get better, we feel compelled to make it better and jump to encouragment and solutions. THere is a time and place for this, but as Jesus demonstrated, we need friends who will grieve with us.
Are You The Strong One?
If you are used to being the tough one, you are in the habit of burying your feelings and moving forward. God doesn’t intend for us to stay bound up in grief and sorrow, which leads to depression. He does, however, want us to allow ourselves the time to acknowledge the pain of the moment and the value of the kind and sensitive part of our grieving souls. After all, we can’t give true love unless we first receive it.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
No Empty Wells
God never expects us to give water from an empty well. If we skip over things that make us feel weak, push through, and not value the moments of grief, we can’t live ideally. If we want to learn to love perfectly, it’s not through books and lectures; it’s allowing ourselves to feel and know perfect love. So maybe there’s an area where you’ve had to be strong and tough. Sit with Jesus and allow Him to be with you in your grief, to comfort you in your sorrow, and to love you through it.
