Jesus Wept

The other day Mary Ledford directed me to Steven Curtis Chapman's Facebook page which I was thankful for because now I can see all of his posts. As you recall, he lost a child as well. This seems familiar-did I already share this? Let me check. I guess not. Here it is:

This past Saturday, May 21st, we gathered as family and friends at the place where we laid the "shell" of our little girl Maria 8 years ago. Every year we gather to remember...we remember the little girl whose eyes disappeared when she smiled and who has changed our lives forever, we remember the pain and the sadness of losing her (not that we ever forget) and most importantly we remember the Hope that we have in the promises of God that the story isn't over yet...the Hope that has kept us breathing and moving forward these past 8 years.

This year we read the story of Lazarus in John 11. As we read there was a phrase that I hadn't really noticed before. When Jesus saw Lazarus' sister weeping, John says he was moved in his spirit and "greatly troubled." Then it goes on to paint a picture of Jesus that has been a great comfort and encouragement to me these last several years...the picture of Jesus standing with a grieving family at the grave of a friend with tears running down his cheeks...Jesus is weeping. I know there are plenty of "theological discussions" about what was behind those tears in Jesus' eyes, but what struck me this time were the two words, "greatly troubled." The thought that Jesus was and is deeply moved and greatly troubled at our sorrow and sadness, even when he knows, in this case, that he is getting ready to raise Lazarus from the dead and turn the funeral into a wild celebration, is something incredibly comforting to me. He didn't scold Mary for her sadness or preach a sermon to her...his heart broke and he wept with her...just like he does with us. He doesn't leave us alone in our grief and sadness...he weeps with those who weep. My family and I needed to be reminded of that this past Saturday...maybe you need to be reminded too.

And then I needed to remember the next part of this story...again.

He walked to the grave where Lazarus was buried and proceeded to show that he has the last word over death! He proved what he said was true..."I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall live and everyone who lives and believes this shall never die."

He raised Lazarus from the dead...and turned their mourning into dancing!

So the Chapmans begin our 9th year of moving forward to that great day when Jesus will wipe every tear from our eyes...and I'll get to dance again with my Cinderella. In the meantime, I'm thankful to remember and hope you'll be encouraged to remember, when the tears do come, we don't cry alone...Jesus weeps with us.

Until that day,
scc