Jesus Wept

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 (ESV)

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible. Two words. Jesus wept. I recall a time when it was said "Real men don't cry." Jesus did. He was the ultimate man. Don't try and rationalize or anything. When you look at the Greek, dakruo it specifically means to shed tears. This Greek word was used exactly once in the New Testament - right here in John 11:35. Do you suppose the specific word choice is significant? I do. Jesus was saddened by the death of Lazarus - even though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus was moved to shed tears. The love He felt for Lazarus was real. The sadness He felt was real. The tears He shed were real. The connection He had to Lazarus and Mary and Martha was real. Jesus wept. Do you?

Do You Believe This?

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26 (ESV)

Lazarus had died. Martha came to Jesus and confessed that she knew that if Jesus were there, Lazarus would not have died. She wasn't nagging. If You'd only been here, this NEVER would have happened. Where the heck were You? No, she recognized His power. She knew what He could do. Jesus began to draw her out. "Your brother will rise again." Yes, Jesus, I know that. He'll rise on the last day. I know that. She recognized Jesus power to heal the sick - the living. She knew that Jesus had power over life. But what about death? Jesus knew He was going to die on the cross. His disciples were beginning to realize that Jesus was going to be killed. Thomas suggested to his fellow disciples that they go and die with Jesus. "Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live." Jesus has power over life AND death. "Do you believe this?" Do you have faith in this? Do you trust this? Are you willing to commit to this? Martha, He's saying, You know Who I really am. You've seen what I can do. I am telling you that I can do more than you know. How are do you respond right here, right now?

I know the end of the story. Lazarus is raised from the dead. Jesus goes on to die on the cross. He dies for my sin. The curtain in the temple is torn in two. Through Jesus, we have access to God's holiness. Jesus is raised from the dead. Death cannot stop Jesus. Oh death, where is your sting? But the question that I am confronted with is the same question Jesus posed here to Martha. "Do I believe this?"