Jesus saw her weeping . . . and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.
John 11:33-35, NKJV
Are you facing a crisis? Is life uncertain? Will you survive when options are exhausted? Are you watching helplessly as the situation quickly becomes a matter of life or death? This is how Mary and Martha feel when they send for their friend Jesus who just happens to miraculously heal people. But Jesus doesn’t come. Lazarus dies. The funeral is held.
In this familiar story we find four lessons. Our first lesson tells us to call for Jesus. He may not answer immediately but we carry on believing He hears and is answering.
Jesus finally arrives, and each sister rebukes Him for being late—they know He could have healed their brother. When He asks where Lazarus is buried, they reply simply, “Lord, come and see.” Our second lesson reminds us to let go of resentment and simply beckon Jesus to come to our stinking place and see our despair.
Our third lesson demonstrates that when Jesus looks, He truly sees our helplessness and vulnerability. His compassion moves Him to act—and to act gloriously. He sees a great multitude, and He acts gloriously by healing their sick; later He acts gloriously by feeding them with five loaves and two fish. He sees a man lying beside the pool of Bethsaida. He turns and sees a woman who touched the hem of His garment. He looks up and sees the faith of four men who lower their paralytic friend through the roof. As He passes by, He sees the man blind from birth. When Jesus sees, His compassionate acts bring forth glorious restoration.
And now Jesus sees two young women weeping for the loss of their beloved brother, for the guardian of their future. We expect Jesus to act gloriously. But not yet. Jesus wept. Our fourth lesson reveals that when our Lord is invited to come deep into our gritty lives and see the anguish of our broken hearts, He weeps with us. He feels our pain and sorrow; then He collects our tears in a bottle and mends our broken hearts because His compassions fail not.
Jesus may not arrive during our crisis, but He’s on His way. He may not come when we expect, but He’s never late. Mary and Martha, and you, too, are about to discover the day when our Savior enters our lives personally—that day is the glorious day of resurrection.
Rebecca Turner is an editorial assistant for the General Conference Women's Ministries Department
© 2022 by Pacific Press Publishing Association