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Past Ponderings

Friday, September 19, 2014

PONDERING... Tears in the Midst Trials (The Resurrection of Lazarus Part 4: vs 28-35)

Disclaimer: This is a very famous passage of scripture, and will be addressed in several parts. However, I do not want to take for granted that everyone is familiar with how this passage ends. This is the account of Jesus raising Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. In the account, we learn that Jesus allowed this all to happen for a purpose. Lazarus died, and Jesus brought Him back...teaching us, and those who witnessed the event, much about Himself.

John 11:28-35  When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."  29  And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.  30  Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.  31  When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.  32  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."  33  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.  34  And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."  35  Jesus wept.

Why was He Angry?
Most English translations make this hard to catch, but the HCSB hits it pretty well.
"33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved... 38 Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it."
...So, why is He angry?
-Sin and death?- The situation symbolized the enemy He came to destroy.

-False mourning?- Admist the true grief of His friends were hired mourners who, despite good intentions, made an mockery of truth.

Eitherway, He is righteously angry.

Why did He cry?
-Compassion? - He loved them. He is moved by compassion for their grief...even though He knows that in a matter of seconds He'll turn these tears to joy!

-Cost?- This action effectively sealed His fate. From this point, the Pharisees are determined to kill Him. He knew this. He knew this meant taking the punishment for sin, the eternal wrath of God, upon Himself for us.

Lesson?
-Even Jesus showed emotion. Emotions are not sinful. As we discussed last time, informed by truth, as His undoubtedly were, they are perfect expressions.

-His heart was moved, even when He knew the outcome. Oh, how He loves us! We serve a God that loves us with a heart-felt, passionate love!


Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions!


Upchurch

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