John
11:28-36 (NIV) And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister
Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for
you." 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now
Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha
had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting
her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing
she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When
Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and
said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When
Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping,
he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid
him?" he asked.
"Come
and see, Lord," they replied.
35
Jesus wept.
36 Then
the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
NOTE: I love the
fact that Jesus did not use any platitudes. He didn't try to answer all her
questions. He didn't defend himself. He didn't waste useless words in a time of
great pain and sorrow. Instead, he just wept. Rejoice with those who rejoice
and weep with those who weep. That is all we have to do--mourn together with
the hurting. There will come a time for discussion and learning, but in the
midst of pain, our souls cry out to be comforted, not to be taught. It is a
strong and godly man who can feel the pain of others in his soul and express it
through tears.
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