2020 Daily Devotion - Day 30
Thursday, April 23, 2020
In John 11, there is the story of how Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus had fallen ill. His sister sent word to Jesus that they needed Him to come and bring healing to this man. But Jesus delayed in joining them. Later in the text, after Lazarus is reported to have died, Jesus indicates His delay will now make it possible for everyone to see the glory of God.
When Jesus arrives, you can hear Martha’s great disappointment in Him. Perhaps you have had a moment like this, where you are disappointed with God and feel like He waited too long. Maybe this is how you feel right now during this pandemic. Where are You, God? What are You doing? However, God does have a purpose for His timing in the world and in our lives.
John 11:32-37 RSV
Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus went on to raise Lazarus from the dead. So why is it said “Jesus wept”? Why would He cry if He knew the outcome? If He knew the man would soon come out of his grave alive, why did he have this kind of emotion?
The fact Jesus wept, knowing full well He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, teaches us He truly cares about your emotions and how the pain of life impacts you. In verse 33, it says, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled…” Jesus understands your feelings, too, and is “deeply moved” by the fear, worry and anxiety you might be feeling in these days.
In my book, "The Language of the Heart', I teach we should not bury our feelings and emotions, but rather we should share them with those in our lives who we can trust to receive them with care. So share your feeling and emotions with someone who you can trust; who will respect your feelings and will not try to talk you out of them an out of the pain you might be feeling. If Jesus can express feelings and emotions, and even shed tears, so can you and I. Jesus validates our emotions.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You are the author of emotions. You are the one who created us with feelings. We are stronger and even healthier when we share them out loud with You and others. Help us to resist the tendency to bury our feelings, and give us the courage to share them with those who we can trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
In John 11, there is the story of how Jesus’ dear friend Lazarus had fallen ill. His sister sent word to Jesus that they needed Him to come and bring healing to this man. But Jesus delayed in joining them. Later in the text, after Lazarus is reported to have died, Jesus indicates His delay will now make it possible for everyone to see the glory of God.
When Jesus arrives, you can hear Martha’s great disappointment in Him. Perhaps you have had a moment like this, where you are disappointed with God and feel like He waited too long. Maybe this is how you feel right now during this pandemic. Where are You, God? What are You doing? However, God does have a purpose for His timing in the world and in our lives.
John 11:32-37 RSV
Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; and he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus went on to raise Lazarus from the dead. So why is it said “Jesus wept”? Why would He cry if He knew the outcome? If He knew the man would soon come out of his grave alive, why did he have this kind of emotion?
The fact Jesus wept, knowing full well He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, teaches us He truly cares about your emotions and how the pain of life impacts you. In verse 33, it says, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled…” Jesus understands your feelings, too, and is “deeply moved” by the fear, worry and anxiety you might be feeling in these days.
In my book, "The Language of the Heart', I teach we should not bury our feelings and emotions, but rather we should share them with those in our lives who we can trust to receive them with care. So share your feeling and emotions with someone who you can trust; who will respect your feelings and will not try to talk you out of them an out of the pain you might be feeling. If Jesus can express feelings and emotions, and even shed tears, so can you and I. Jesus validates our emotions.
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, You are the author of emotions. You are the one who created us with feelings. We are stronger and even healthier when we share them out loud with You and others. Help us to resist the tendency to bury our feelings, and give us the courage to share them with those who we can trust. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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