New Beginnings - New Life - The Teacher is Here

 JOHN 11

John 11:28-37 (NIV)

"After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

After her declaration of faith, Martha abruptly returned to her sister; showing the busy character that we see in her elsewhere (Luke 10:38-42). Ever the manager, she informed her sister Mary that Jesus was asking for her though John doesn't record Jesus making that request.

The encounter earlier between Martha and Jesus was initiated with Martha's blunt verbal affirmation. Mary's approach was subtly but significantly different. She humbly fell at Jesus's feet before she spoke. The first words spoken by both sisters was the same. But Mary had already acted on her faith, though neither sister expected what was about to happen.

John tells us that seeing Mary and those following her weeping "deeply moved" and "troubled" Jesus. Various explanations have been considered regarding Jesus's tears. Some read the tears as signs of Jesus's care for Lazarus; others questioned Jesus's motive for withholding healing. We are left with the facts of Jesus's tears--signs of humanity and engagement, evidence of emotional vulnerability. We who often cannot explain our own tears are touched by Jesus's demonstration that "we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15 NIV).

Mary and Martha didn't know what Jesus would do, but they did know Jesus. That was enough.

Getting Personal

1. Jesus knew what he was going to do (John 11:11), so why do you think John made a note of his tears leading up to a great miracle?
2. What does it mean to you that Jesus understands your tears--even the ones unshed?

Jesus's tears confirm our permission to grieve, as long as we are not "uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that [we] do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NIV). Tears do not have to be hopeless. Jesus is not ashamed to cry with us, even before He intervenes miraculously.

Putting It Into Action

Jesus completely understands your emotional responses to him as you pray. Even when words don't come easy in prayer, he understands your heart. So pray freely and honestly.

Bible Verse

"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin". Hebrews 4:14-15 (NIV)

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, we look to Jesus Christ, who is at your right hand, through whom you have promised help for the whole world. Unite us with him so that we may receive authority to help all people according to your will. May your name be kept holy among us, for your children have every reason to rejoice in the Saviour you have given them. We thank you for everything you have shown to those who believe in you. We pray to you, hasten the time when your day shall come with glory, the day when you will give the glory to Jesus Christ, when he will reign and triumph over all evil and bring the peace you have always wanted to give the world. We wait and long for this. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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