A Few Good Words

          I was speaking with some coworkers about a maintenance procedure I was writing and how few words were being written. The point being that there was more effort in planning and documenting the procedure than there was effort to perform the steps. However, I commented, the shortest verse in the King James Bible was only two words “Jesus wept” and yet it held so much meaning. I did not give it much thought for the rest of the work day.

          As I drove home that evening, I reflected back on my statement and how meaningful those two words really were. Think about it for just a few moments. Think about what it means to weep for something or someone. Think about “GOD The Son” shedding tears. Think about why Jesus wept.

           In John 11, we read Jesus was preaching on the side of the Jordan River when He received news that His friend Lazarus was gravely ill in Judea.  Lazarus’ sisters had sent for Jesus to help. Now Jesus was “about His Father’s business” and did not depart for Judea right away. After two days, Jesus announced they would travel to Lazarus. However, the Disciples were concerned for Jesus’ well-being since the Jews in Judea sought to stone Jesus. Yet Jesus was not deterred by the Disciples’ concerns, but stated that Lazarus was “sleeping” and He must go to awaken him. Further into John 11 we read that Lazarus’ sister Martha met Jesus on the road to inform him that her brother had already died and been entombed for four days. Jesus informed Martha that her brother will rise again and Martha agrees Lazarus will rise again during the Resurrection at the last day. It is in John 11: 25-26 we read, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus is asking Martha if she believes in Him as her Savior. Martha responds that she believes Jesus is the Son of Christ, but stops short of affirming her belief that Jesus is the Savior. Instead Martha goes to her sister Mary and tells her where Jesus is and Mary confronts Jesus about her brother’s death. Jesus sees Mary and others weeping for their loss and Jesus was troubled. It is after Jesus asked to see the tomb, that we read Jesus wept and it is there that I stop to discuss why Jesus wept.

Sincerity - In verse 11, we read of Jesus informing His Disciples that He goes to “wake” Lazarus up from his sleep. As GOD The Son, we know Jesus is all-knowing and that He will raise Lazarus from the dead. In verse 36, the Jews remark how Jesus’ weeping shows how much He loved Lazarus and yet they question why Jesus could not save Lazarus from dying. Like Martha, they are treating Lazarus’ death as final and questions what could have been if only Jesus had been there in time. Just like today, people will question your sincerity by assuming you could have done more or you should react the way they think you should. No one should doubt Jesus’ sincerity in His love for us all and we can openly tell others of His great love for them.

Empathy – In verse 33, Jesus sees Lazarus’s sister Mary and others weeping and it causes Jesus to groan in the Spirit. In reading these verses, Jesus may be weeping because he feels for their grief and His human emotions are expressed in His empathy. Throughout Jesus’ life on this earth, His love for us was never in doubt and His love for Lazarus’ family is no exception. On this verse alone, I believe any other religious deity (false god) cannot compare to GOD sending His Son to this earth in human form to walk among us and experience life as we must do, experiencing our highs and our lows, teaching us to love one another, as we love the FATHER. How can you believe in a higher power that has not experienced what you must face every day? We can tell others that our Lord and Savior has walked this earth and has experienced pain and sorrow.

Pity – In verse 21, Martha states “if only Jesus had been there.”  In verse 24, Jesus tells Martha that she will see her brother again and yet Martha believes He is speaking of the resurrection.  In verse 32, Mary tells Jesus “if only He had been there.”  In verse 37, the Jews question why Jesus can heal the blind but not save Lazarus from dying. And finally in verse 39, Martha responds to Jesus’ request to see the tomb by replying that the body would have a stench after the four days. In each verse there is a genuine believe that death is final and that Jesus was too late. Could it be that Jesus wept feeling pity for those who didn’t understand what He had been telling them all along: “Death is not the end.”  Clearly in verse 25, Jesus tells Martha that whoever believes in Him will have everlasting life.  Jesus’ love for us is an agape love and I can’t imagine the pain we cause Him when we refuse to believe in the Resurrection.

            Two simple words, Jesus Wept, can change someone’s life forever. In a world dying before our eyes, in this time of uncertainty, and with our anxiety at its pinnacle, Jesus is the answer and we need to tell everyone that Jesus wept. Tell them that He understands their pain and through Him, death is not final, if they would only believe in Jesus. Two simple words can be the simplest “ice breaker” to the last conversation a fellow sinner will ever need. Praise be to GOD for those two simple words.