Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – August 31, 2020
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” John 11:34-36
I recently wept watching our four daughters at the bedside of their grandmother, my mother-in-law, weeping over her critical condition. She is their hero. Jean points them to Jesus with her loving smile, her joyful energy and her selfless service. I told the chaplain that Jean loved Jesus twice as much as he and I loved Jesus combined! I can remember especially when the girls were teenagers, when mom and dad seemed to not understand them—they turned to their grandmother who made them feel fully known and fully loved. Our sobbing over the thought of losing someone we love so deeply, emblazoned my heart: the deeper our love the deeper our sorrow.
Lazarus, a friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha, was deeply loved by his sisters and his close confidant. No doubt, these siblings grew up together playing, fighting and having fun, but pursued more meaning in life by placing their faith in Jesus. These friends and family had grown especially close and now experienced the intense grief and sorry in seeing one of them succumb to sickness unto death. Emotional and even angry, they wept together with deep sorrow. Everyone who knew Jesus knew He could have healed His friend, but He didn’t. He cried. After extending comfort, Christ brought Lazarus back to life, promising eternal life to all who believed.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:25-26)?
Is your heart hurting, even broken over the loss of someone you deeply love? If so, seek comfort from those who love Jesus, who can love you like Jesus. Care and compassion come from those who fully know you and truly love you. Your deep love for someone sets you up for deep sorrow. Sorrow is the fruit of love. Sorrow stinks. It hurts. But it is an opportunity, an opportunity to allow one’s life of love to inspire you through your sorrow to face tomorrow. Love overcomes. A loved one’s death can give you a breath of hope, because her life hoped in the Lord. Love hopes.
Jesus is very clear that those who believe in Him, though they die—they will live and never die. The Lord provides hope and healing for the heart now and for eternity. Trust in Him. Life is a pass through that we get through—through prayer and God’s people. Everyone’s journey has joy and sorrow along the way. But peace is the outcome of receiving the Father’s love, the Son’s forgiveness and the Spirit’s comfort. Abide deeply in God’s love to comfort your hurting heart. Weeping in the night is replaced by joy in the morning. A tearful heart can look to heaven’s love.
“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5, NLT).
Prayer
Lover of my soul, keep me close to your heart to comfort my achy heart, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Application
Seek love and comfort from those who can love you like Jesus.
Related Reading
Esther 9:22; Jeremiah 31:13; John 16:22; Hebrews 13:17; Philippians 2:27
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