Jesus Wept

Throughout Lent I have been pondering God and all of His attributes. I have been thinking about just who God is and how I relate to my Savior. Who is God and what is He like? That has been my focus this season.

One Bible verse that I keep coming back to is John 11:35. "Jesus wept." The verse comes from the account of Lazarus. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. Lazarus was also a dear friend of Jesus. When Lazarus became ill, Jesus was ministering elsewhere and before Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had died and been buried.

The Bible goes on to tell us that as Jesus was with Mary and Martha, talking about Lazarus, he wept. I think some of it was that human Jesus loved his friends and he wept because he felt their sorrow in the death of their brother.

Honestly though, that wasn't the whole of Christ's weeping. Jesus wept for a much different reason. Jesus knew that his Father was going to call Lazarus back to earth.

I think Jesus wept because he knew what Lazarus would be giving up. Heaven in amazing beyond our understanding, our comprehension. Jesus wept because he felt bad that Lazarus had to leave Heaven.

Our friends and family that have gone to Heaven before us, they are in glory. They are worshipping Christ, they are exploring a VAST expanse of beauty, they are banqueting on food that is indescribly delicious. Our loved ones are singing "Glory!" with the angels! Who would want to leave that!?!

To ask God to keep a loved here, to return a loved one is tempting. I know I have family members and friends that I wish I could have more time with. To want them back is selfish and wrong thinking. The prayer should be, "Lord, I miss my loved ones. Please come soon and call us all home. Allow those of us still here to join y'all in Heaven." We should be wanting to go there.

Heaven, it is a wonderful place! It is full of glory and grace! We will get to see our Savior's face! We will be reunited with those pilgrims that made it home first! We will see why Jesus wept for Lazarus.

God is the designer of Heaven. God is the ultimate gift giver. God is lavish! God weeps.

-JLP-