Deeply Moved and Greatly Troubled

Daily Reading: John 11

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. (John 11.32-33)

Devotional Thought: When Lazarus died, Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit” when he witnessed his friends and loved ones weeping over him.  He wept over the death of his friend as well, even though he knew he would soon raise him back to life.  Jesus was no stranger to grief, but he also chose this moment to demonstrate his power and foreshadow his own resurrection, the moment when he would conquer death forever.

Both Martha’s and Mary’s responses to Jesus after losing their brother are recorded here.  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” (v21).  He responds by reminding them who he was, that he was the resurrection and the life.  He then goes to the tomb of Lazarus and proves it – he prays to God and calls Lazarus from death to life with all authority and power given to him.

I love in this story how neither Mary nor Martha is afraid to go to Jesus with their pain.  They both show faith, but their faith is limited at this point; it does not occur to them that Jesus might have the power to raise the dead to life!  What do we do when we are faced with trials, despair, or sorrow?  Do we doubt our faith, and retreat into bitterness and isolation?  Or do we carry our burdens to Jesus, knowing that nothing can come to us unless he allows it?  When we cry out to him, he is faithful to respond in the same way he did for Mary and Martha.  He reminds us who he is, that he is the resurrection and the life.  He who called us from death to life, with all authority and power, now dwells within us – our source of eternal joy and hope!

Jenny

Prayer: Lord, we know we can trust you with our pain, with our sorrows, with the burdens of this world.  The One who has conquered death now dwells with us, strengthening us with all power and might in the name of Jesus.

Psalm of the Day: 36.1-6

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.