A Weeping Moment
“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 (Lazarus)?’ He asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.”- John 11:33-35
The pain is real. The loss is immeasurable. There does not seem to be a slowing down of evil. The need is greater than any answers this world can provide. Once again, our land is hurting and at a loss from multiple mass shootings in the month of May. From Downtown Milwaukee to a grocery store in Buffalo; a house of worship in Laguna Woods (CA) to an Elementary School last week in Uvalde, the unspeakable has happened. Lives have been senselessly taken; families have suffered the greatest loss; hate and fear continues to rise at alarming levels.
As we continue to process, grieve, and pray for all the communities entrenched in tragedy, there needs to be a MOVE OF THE HEART. Do gun laws need to be addressed, modified, and stiffened? Absolutely! Do individuals need more intervention with mental illness, family dysfunction, and behavioral issues? One hundred percent! Does our nation need restoration? Yes! Do churches need to step in to serve and shine as beacon of hope? Amen! Yet, our starting place is to have our hearts moved with compassion, praying for God’s comfort over hurting hearts and a change of heart in those who are blind with pride and broken by pain. We need the God promise of Ezekiel 36:26 to happen right now, “And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
As Jesus enters Bethany, Lazarus has already died. His sisters (Mary and Martha) are grieving, the town is reeling, and the Savior of the World, the Author of Life is seeing the full effect that loss, pain, and death has on people. It is not that Jesus is at a loss of what to do next or lacks the ability bring miracle life to dead places, but amid the widespread weeping, Jesus is moved to also weep for those hurting deep inside. As we navigate all that can be done and all that needs to change, let’s allow the heart to be the starting place. That we would be stirred to pray for broken hearts. That we would look for ways to help, care for, provide resources to people in need. That we would speak lovingly and hopefully to those searching for answers. That we would not ignore or avoid the real pain people experience, but rather enter “their Bethany”, being fully present. In Matthew 5:4 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Oh, Jesus deliver Your comfort and mercy to all that need a healing touch!