by Pete
Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you only had been there, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. "Where have you put him?" he asked them. They told him, "Lord, come and see." Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!"….Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me." (John 11:30-36, 40-42)
Thirteen years ago this month (almost to the day), my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. As I reflect on this time in my life, it brings back bitter and raw emotion. Three months to the date after he was diagnosed he went to heaven on a lonely Sunday morning. I never got to say goodbye. That night I cried myself to sleep in the arms of my mother with a host of angels at our side. For several years, I wondered why my God would allow something like this to happen. In many ways, I questioned God's goodness and love.
However, the story of Lazarus above provides a convicting reminder that our Creator God, our Daddy, Hosanna in the highest was and is moved by the compassion of Lazarus's friends and family. I can spend the rest of my life comparing my weeping and mourning with that of Lazarus' closest companions and never fully understand why dad was not healed. The fact is that we live in a "fallen world". But, verse 40 provides an interesting insight into the Kingdom of God (in bold). That day, the crowd saw God's glory through the raising of Lazarus. However, in the last several years, I have been surprised to find the Spirit shine light/glory on my tragic circumstance. You see, I have come to find that in the Kingdom of God that no tear goes un-noticed or un-fulfilled through the eyes of a God who is moved by our sorrow and would move heaven and earth just to be with us.
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