Jesus Wept - Pt 3

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.” 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. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. (John 11:32-35 ESV). There is one last point to explore in the compassion of God. When Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, it was a wonderful example for others. Of course, grief over the death of a loved one is to be expected; however, Jesus knew his friend was coming back to life. It was not the separation from his beloved friend that grieved him. I think he was grieved over the pain of those who were there and simply identified with that pain to the point of tears. Sarah Winchester's husband had acquired a fortune by manufacturing and selling rifles. After he died of influenza in 1918, she moved to San Jose, California. Because of her grief and her long time interest in spiritism, Sarah sought out a medium to contact her dead husband. The medium told her, "As long as you keep building your home, you will never face death." Sarah believed the spiritist, so she bought an unfinished 17-room mansion and started to expand it. The project continued until she died at the age of 85. It cost 5 million dollars at a time when workmen earned 50 cents a day. The mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years. Today that house stands as more than a tourist attraction. It is a silent witness to the dread of death that holds millions of people in bondage. Jesus understands our fear and dread of death. However, he also understands the way to life. When he spoke to his disciples that last time, he told them he would be going away to prepare a place for them and he would also come to get them to be there with him Thomas, not understanding the meaning of Jesus’ teaching, simply asked how they could get to a place they had never seen nor been. It is then, in compassion, that Jesus said, “I am the way.” We should understand the victory and comfort others in their pain. I like to remember death this way: Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. Jesus understands. Trust him in all things!