THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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The Sunday School teacher asked her class: "What are the sin of omission?"
There was silence for a few seconds. Then one little boy said, "Those are the sins we never got around to!"
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John 11:33-35
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
(KJV)
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I hope you are familiar with the passage of Scripture quoted today. If not, perhaps you should read it in entirety (John 11:1-45).
Mary and Martha had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. But Jesus had delayed coming to them. Then Jesus decided to go into Judaea again. On the way, He stopped in Bethany where Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived. But Lazarus had died, and had been in the grave four days.
Ultimately Mary led Jesus to the grave, weeping with sorrow because of the loss of her brother. And as Jesus stood at the tomb of His friend, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).
Now May already knew that there would be a resurrection, and that she would see her brother again. But the grief and sorrow of her loss was overwhelming. It was also overwhelming to Jesus! As Mary cried, Jesus cried WITH her.
Jesus is truly the "man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). After all, the grief of our sin was His propulsion to the cross. Jesus is not a "spectator" to our heartaches. He knows and shares them WITH us!
Jesus knows that sin causes death. He was not weeping only for Mary's sorrow, but also for the sorrow of what sin does to people! Sin brings DEATH (Romans 6:23).
When we face times of sorrow, it is good to know that the "man of sorrows" weeps WITH us! His compassion causes His heart to hurt with our hurt.
And the "man of sorrows" can also breathe NEW LIFE into DEAD BODIES!
So if you are hurting today, remember that Jesus loves you enough to cry WITH you. And He can breathe NEW LIFE into and through your pain!
Love ya,
Bruce
mcge3582@bellsouth.net
http://www.linktojesus.org
Tears are a language God understands!