Now a man was sick, Lazarus, from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, and it was her brother, Lazarus, who was sick. So the sisters sent a message to Jesus: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Many of the Jews had come to Mary and Martha to comfort them about their brother. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet and told him “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died!” When Jesus saw her crying and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Lord,” they told Him, “come and see.” Jesus wept. John 11:1-3, 17, 19, 32-35
My words…
Praise
Jesus, of all of the events of Your time dwelling among humans, I find this to be one of my favorites. Expressed within the words of this sad occasion is an action that refreshes my spirit every time I read it: You cried. Your tear ducts filled up, and the tears leaked down Your cheeks. When You stood among those grieving the loss of a brother and friend, You felt their loss. But I wonder if it was something more since You knew their sadness would turn to joy within a few moments when You would resurrect Lazarus from the tomb. Did You grieve the loss of human innocence and perfect communion with God in Eden? Did you grieve the deception of Satan and his evil impact on humankind since then? Did You cry because You hate death and are so weary of witnessing grief? Whatever the reason, I am glad You wept. You are the God whose tender heart aches when His children suffer.
Prayer for the grieving
So many grieving souls are crying as I write this prayer. Someone they love is dying. They are “cried out.” Their tear ducts are over-worked and tired. They wake in the morning and remember their grief, wishing it was just a bad dream. It is difficult for them to see beyond their suffering. Comfort them, Lord. You have lived through the same pain. Draw them close to You and carry their sorrows.
Prayer for the dying
Lord, only You know the days I have left to live on this beautiful earth. But there are those who know their lives are numbered not in years, but in days and months. You know how they feel. You knew when Your days and hours on earth were drawing to a close. You chose to vanquish death. You longed to be reunited with Your Father. You had been with Him before; You knew what to expect. Soothe the anxious hearts of those who know not what to expect. Calm the spirits of those who dread leaving the ones they love, even as they long for Paradise. My hope is that when they see You, You will be crying – tears of joy.
