A weeping Saviour

Today I've been preparing a talk for an after-school bible club i do in New Malden on Lazarus. Its a story we're all familiar with, Jesus shows up and raises his friend Lazarus from the dead. But reading it again has made me stop and ask a few questions.

Why did Jesus cry?

The typical answer? Because Jesus was sad that his friend had died? But why? If he was about to raise him from the dead, why would he cry about it... his friend would be fit and well in no time!

Surely Jesus then wasnt crying at the death of his friend - no. He was crying at the hurt, the pain, the futility which death inflicted on humanity around him. This wasnt how it was meant to be.

God created us to love him and worship him and be in perfect relationship with him for eternity. Way back in the garden thats how it was for Adam and Eve. But Lazarus's death was a reminder of the consequences of our sin. We had brought death upon ourselves and it broke Jesus heart.

Jesus wept for humanity - we are lost in our fallenness.

And yet theres hope, because Jesus makes Martha a promise...

" I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" John 11:25-26

Jesus claims that though we will die, there is life after death for those who believe and live in him.

And how can we be certain of that? Absolutely fool-proof sure? Because right after Jesus made that promise he went on to do the impossible, he proved his power, proved his point and proved his promise.

He raised Lazarus back to life defeating deaths hold.

And he rose to life himself showing that the promise is true. Brothers and sisters, if we Believe in him and live in him, he will raise us to life in him!

What a beautiful Saviour.