But is God really loving? Wouldn't a supreme being be 'too busy' to be concerned with the individual people undergoing tragedy and trial here on the singular planet earth? After all our planet seems so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of the vast cosmos!
In the gospel of John we are presented with a clear picture of the life of Jesus Christ. The purpose of this portrait of Jesus is that we might really understand who Jesus is. "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name." Jesus is a historical figure that people of all faiths and cultures acknowledge and honor in some way. But its when we understand who Jesus said that he was and truly believe that we experience an infusion of a new kind of life.... a second birth.
In the 11th chapter of John we discover something extremely important about Jesus and how he relates to us as people. Jesus is just days away from being betrayed, crucified and ultimately resurrected from death to save us from our sins. But in the midst of his mission, he never lost sight of his relationships. Jesus was close to a family living in the village of Bethany. Lazarus and his two sisters had hosted him in their home and their hospitality and love had made a distinct impression on Jesus. Tragically the story in this chapter opens with the news that Lazarus has become extremely ill. A messenger has been sent to Jesus who is at least a day's journey away, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." (John 11:3) Let those words sink deeply into your heart and mind as you read this. Jesus loves you.... yes, he loves you. Jesus is not in any way indifferent to your trials, tragedy and temptations in this life. In verse 5 we read, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."
Perhaps your circumstances today seem to contradict that God loves you. You 'feel' abandoned, disappointed and broken by life. As this story unfolds it is revealed that God has a bigger plan in this tragedy than Lazarus, Martha or Mary could have ever imagined. Jesus pointedly delays his travel to the home of the ailing Lazarus. In a dramatic and powerful display of his divinity, Jesus goes on to raise Lazarus from the DEAD! And yet today I want you to look not primarily at the miracle of Jesus but the motivation of his heart.
In verse 32 we see a dramatic encounter outside the home of Jesus friends who were mourning the death of Lazarus. "Then , when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord , if you had been here, my brother would not have died." Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, "Where have you laid him?"
They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"
Make no mistake God is moved with compassion in the direction of your pain. In God's economy, relationship matters above everything else. Jesus in not an emotionless spiritual being doing what he does without feeling and compassion. Here we see the connection between empathy and mission. Jesus was MOVED with compassion toward bringing a miracle to bear into his friends lives.
Even in the midst of our pain and problems we can be assured that Jesus is not indifferent. When his response seems delayed, muted or different than what we expected we can know without a doubt that we are loved by him. "Jesus wept."..... the shortest verse in the Bible contains perhaps its deepest and most profound revelation to all who are hurting and in need of healing.
Don't lose hope. Jesus is moving in your direction. Don't quit believing. Don't quit praying. He loves you and the answer to your cries is on its way. He loves you, he really does.
Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment