Jesus wept!! ??

In Sunday school John 11:35 was my favourite verse. It simply reads, "Jesus wept",  the shortest verse in the bible. In John 11, Jesus is informed that the brother of Mary and Martha, Lazarus, had fallen ill and later He is told that he had died. John 11:35 occurs when Mary, hearing that the Lord had finally arrived goes to meet Him. In context, it would appear that Jesus was grieved on losing a dear friend; as if the Giver of Life was at that moment, overwhelmed by death. 

However, last night the Spirit of God showed me something amazing. In Young's Literal Translation, the verse reads "Jesus....did groan in the spirit, and troubled himself (vs 33)". So He weeps in vs 35. Again at the tomb of Lazarus the Word says, "Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the tomb (vs 38)". Beloved, in both the verses preceding the ones I have mentioned, there are strong elements of unbelief.

 In vs 32 Jesus heard Mary say, "Sir, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died" and in vs 37 the mourners say of Him, "Was not this one, who did open the eyes of the blind man, able to cause that also this one might not have died". Beloved, the Son of God, Life Himself had stepped into the scene and yet "they knew Him not". 

Jesus did not grieve for Lazarus as many may say; He was troubled to tears at the unbelief, even from Mary who had sat at His feet and heard words of Life (Like 10:42). He had clearly told Martha, "I am the rising again (resurrection), and the life; he who is believing in me, even if he may die, shall live (vs 25)". The Giver of Life does NOT compromise with death.

Jesus knew what He was going to do. So He walks up to the tomb, prays what seems to be one of the shortest recorded prayers; where He says, "Father, I thank Thee, that Thou didst hear me; and I knew that Thou always dost hear me, but, BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE THAT IS STANDING BY, I said [it], that THEY MAY BELIEVE that Thou didst send me (vs 41-42)",  and calls out to the one who was dead for four days and "HE COMES BACK TO LIFE (vs 44)"!!! Hallelujah!!

You see beloved, the Lord knew what He would do, for when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He said, "This ailment is NOT unto death, but for the GLORY of GOD, that the SON OF GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through it (vs 4)"; and when He heard that the sick man had died, He purposely delayed His arrival in Bethany saying, "Lazarus our friend HATH FALLEN ASLEEP, but I go on that I MAY AWAKE HIM (vs 11)". 

He knew that God would glorify Him in this miracle before it even happened. So when He weeps, He weeps not in grief but because He was walking among His own but His own KNEW HIM NOT (John 1:11). 

Beloved the Holy Spirit has revealed the deep things of God to us today. As Paul says, "but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV). These things have been revealed to us for a reason, "For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God." (Romans 14:11)" and beloved we are that chosen generation. 

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you (Isaiah 60:1). "

Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.." (John 14:6). Choose Jesus, choose life!! Shalom!! :-D