“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!'” – John 11:32-36
Recently, I received the news of the passing of someone that I had been close to, though haven’t spoken with for many years.
I don’t think we’re ever ready for such news or events.
Even though I thank God that they’re now rejoicing with Jesus, it’s not easy for those of us still here.
Grief and loss are inevitable in our human experience, and during such times, we could question why God allowed such pain to enter our lives.
In John 11, we see Mary grieving the death of her brother, Lazarus. She expressed her disappointment and sorrow to Jesus, saying that if He had been there, Lazarus would not have died.
Jesus, though fully aware of His power to raise Lazarus from the dead, was deeply moved by Mary’s grief. He wept with her, showing His tender heart and compassion for her pain.
In this passage, we can find comfort in God’s grace and comfort in times of grief and loss. Jesus’ response to Mary’s grief reminds us that God is not distant or indifferent to our pain.
He empathizes with our sorrow and is present with us in our deepest moments of grief.
Jesus, who is the embodiment of God’s grace, shows us that it is okay to mourn, and it is okay to express our emotions to Him. He understands our human condition and invites us to bring our pain and sorrow to Him.
Moreover, Jesus’ act of raising Lazarus from the dead illustrates God’s power over death and His ultimate plan of redemption. He reminds us that death is not the end for those who believe in Him.
He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), and He has conquered death through His own death and resurrection.
Therefore, in the midst of our grief, we can find hope in the assurance that God’s grace and compassion are always available to us.
He will comfort us, heal our broken hearts, and give us strength to face each day.
As we journey through the valleys of grief and loss, let us remember that we serve a compassionate God who understands our pain, and who offers us comfort and hope through His grace.
We can be comforted in knowing that He is with us, weeping with us, and ultimately leading us to eternal life through His redeeming love.
This song, “Here with you”, by Jeremy Camp, who has also endured much grief, is amazing https://youtu.be/R8azDl-QzQc
Be blessed & be a blessing,
Graham