The Final Week of Jesus - When Friends Weep

When Jesus finally makes it to Bethany, Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already.

One can only imagine what must have been going through the sisters’ minds as they watched their brother suffer, as they saw him take his last breath. As they wrapped his body along with their hope and prepared it for the burial. As the stone was rolled over the gaping mouth of the tomb, sealing it shut.

The two sisters, as different as night and day, greet Jesus with exactly the same words:

Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21, 32

Lord, in Your presence death has to flee…but in Your absence…

Where were You?

What took You so long…?

You cleansed the lepers, gave sight to the blind, opened the mouth of the dumb, made lame walk… 

Couldn’t You keep our beloved… Your beloved from dying…

Couldn’t You… ? Wouldn’t You…? Why wouldn’t You…?

Faith and heartbreak pour down the sisters’ grief-carved cheeks.

The great equalizer of all humanity brings the two sisters –

the Doer and the Listener…

the Activist and the Pacifist…

the Server and the Worshipper…

Together.

Both at the end of themselves.

Both at the crossroad of their faith in Jesus.

Both at a loss to understand His love. 

Both weeping.

And what does Jesus do?

He weeps with them, too.

He weeps?

But, He knew what He was about to do. 

He knew that in a few short minutes Lazarus would be alive and well and back with them.

And still...

He wept.