John 11:28–37 (ESV)
Jesus Weeps
28 When
she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in
the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw
him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And
he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also
have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus is probably still in Bethany or perhaps about halfway to Jerusalem. Martha had returned to Jerusalem and brought her sister Mary. When Mary gets to
where Jesus is located, compare what she says to what Martha said.
Martha: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Mary: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not
have died.”
Notice that both sisters said the same thing: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Both knew that Jesus could have prevented the death. This
is why it was important for Jesus to wait two days before coming... to delay and help set up the big miracle event. Both women tell Jesus the same thing except Martha adds to it, maybe giving a hint or a hope of a miracle. Jesus ask “Where
have you laid him and they took him to the tomb. The shortest verse in the Bible comes up. 35 Jesus wept. You see Jesus’ compassion come out when he wept. When Jesus comes to Mary and Martha’s house and sees great mourning, He
is moved to tears over the situation and because of love for His friends. For all people, death and the grave bring loss and the pain of separation. But for Christians, death is only a temporary interruption of the fellowship they share with others in Christ
Jesus, who will raise believers up on the Last Day to everlasting life.
I pray: O Lord, I know in today’s reading that you are setting up a big event. I confess that I believe and know that
you are the Lord of Life and you are full of compassion. I pray that you protect me and guide me to your Kingdom. Amen.