DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: John 11:35 – Jesus wept.

Wow, such a short but powerful scripture. It’s actually a pretty profound scripture when you look into it deeper. Most of us have fell into the coined reference to this scripture as being “the shortest verse in the bible”. However, that isn’t true. In actuality, this scripture is one of two (2) scriptures in the bible that are only 2 words long (see 1 Thess. 5:16). I must say, I think the scripture in John has gotten more publicity because of its incredible meaning, which we will examine today.

So it simply says, “Jesus wept”. In context of the scripture, if you’re just reading, you’d think that Jesus was crying because Lazarus was dead. The reality is that Jesus is weeping for a reason that troubled his heart more than anything else. Let me first say this, Jesus had already knew that Lazarus was going to die. In fact, he wanted to make sure that he was good and dead before he even left to go to him (see John 11: 3-6). With that being said, Jesus was NOT weeping over Lazarus’ death. Jesus knew this was an opportunity for God to work and show the Jews that he was from God.

So why was he weeping then? I’m so glad you asked! I won’t go deep into it but I will give you what the hurt was due to. Jesus was weeping because of the Jews lack of faith. After all that Jesus had shown them in miracles and after all of his teachings, he was hurt to his core that even though the people had the Messiah right in their faces, they still didn’t believe. Oh, so you don’t believe me? Well the bible is clear to say that before Jesus got into the village, he was met by Mary and a mob of weeping Jews who saw Lazarus’ situation as a dead circumstance.  It even goes on to say when Jesus saw this he was “troubled in his spirit”.  Trust me, he wasn’t moved by their tears! Jesus is hurt because of the people still having a heart of depression, sorrow, and no sense of who had finally arrived. If they would have been like Martha, coming to the Lord with optimism, hope and belief – minus the weeping (the bible never says that she went to Jesus weeping), maybe his heart would have been glad to see that God’s chosen people were starting to get it and realize that he is the Christ and he can do anything; even bring the dead back to life!

Now onto us. What does God see when he looks at your life? Does he still see that lack of faith? The depression over your circumstances? The sorrow over lost love, friends and material things? Does he see you having a pity party for yourself with a room full of unbelievers keeping you from seeing who he is and more importantly, that he is coming?

Or are you expecting his arrival, waiting patiently in faith and ready to run to him when you hear word that he’s coming?

Today, let’s not make God weep anymore over our lack of faith. We believe! I BELIEVE!!!!! Pray to God that you can be more like Martha and less like Mary in all situations in your life. May the one true God of grace, peace, mercy and love move you from weeping and making God look weak, into a confident & faithful Christian who is expecting God to do the miraculous, even when everything else looks dead in our lives. Move forward in the power of Christ family, in Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN!!!