Jesus Weeps With Us: Resurrection, Hope, and Grief

Jesus' response to Martha is not frustration. It's a question, and it's a gentle one. Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? He didn't say, did you not listen? He didn't say, why are you doubting me again? But instead, was a reminder. A return to what already has been promised. Faith Jesus suggests is not the absence of hesitation. It's the willingness to roll away the stone anyway. [00:54:07] (54 seconds)  #FaithIsWilling

And then comes the moment the whole chapter has been building towards. Jesus calls out, Lazarus, come out. There's no ritual. There's no formula. There's no lengthy prayer. Just a voice and death has nothing to say. And, as Lazarus emerged, Jesus turned to those standing around him and told them to unwrap him and let him go. To remove the grave clothes. To stand with one another. To speak life giving words over each other. To unbind and to let him go. [00:55:01] (47 seconds)  #UnbindAndSpeakLife

Why did the one get healed, but the other one die? Why did Jesus apparently answer someone else's prayer, but not ours? Why did he not turn up on time when he's done it countless other times to others? These are not the questions of unbelievers. They are the questions of every single person present here today and at home I'm sure. The grieving, the watching, the wondering, they are our questions. [00:50:45] (40 seconds)  #GriefQuestions

But, he does not ask us to have it all figured out. He does not ask us to come without our doubt. Martha didn't have it all figured out. Mary was not without her doubt. The crowd certainly wasn't without their questions and doubt and fear. Jesus only asks that we listen and that we hear him again say to us and to every single person, I am the resurrection and I am the life. Amen. [00:57:14] (48 seconds)  #DoubtIsWelcome

Because, we're told that Jesus stands with us. He stands with us in our grief. His answer to Mary's anguish is not to lecture her or to chastise her. He does not explain himself. He doesn't defend the delay. Instead, he stands. He stands with her. He moves towards that tomb and he weeps. Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. [00:49:24] (37 seconds)  #HeEntersOurGrief

And this is our calling too. To stand with each other. To rejoice as we watch hope returning to those whom we love. To be that community that loosens the grip of grief and speaks resurrection into the lives of those around us. To hold the despair of our family, of our brothers and sisters, of our neighbors. To hold the despair and to weep with them. Because as we weep, we bear the love of Jesus Christ. [00:55:49] (46 seconds)  #StandWithEachOther

Because Jesus has given us his answer. He's given us a rock to hold onto. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. And, everyone who believes and believes in me will never die. He declares anew today. Into a world and into a society, while that's quietly decided that death is a problem to be managed rather than enemy that has been defeated. [00:56:35] (39 seconds)  #ResurrectionPromise

Is it a criticism? Is it faith? Is it both at once perhaps? A cry wrung out of love and loss that doesn't quite know what to do with itself. Given everything that they had seen Jesus do, it isn't surprising that both Martha and Mary expected him to save their brother. And yet, here they stand with the tomb sealed and the grief roar convinced of just one thing. Jesus was too late. [00:45:25] (42 seconds)  #JesusTooLate

Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. And, he weeps as we weep. Jesus is moved by our grief. He knows that healing is coming. And yet, still he weeps. Because Mary and Martha weep. Doubt is not unique to grief, but it is a reality we carry most days. Even the crowd gathered around the tomb gave voice to it. We're told in verse 37 that some of them said, could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying? Why did the one get healed, but the other one die? Why did Jesus apparently answer someone else's prayer, but not ours? Why did he not turn up on time when he's done it countless other times to others? These are not the questions of unbelievers. They are the questions of every single person present here today and at home I'm sure. The grieving, the watching, the wondering, they are our questions. [00:49:54] (89 seconds)

Because, we're told that Jesus stands with us. He stands with us in our grief. His answer to Mary's anguish is not to lecture her or to chastise her. He does not explain himself. He doesn't defend the delay. Instead, he stands. He stands with her. He moves towards that tomb and he weeps. Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. And, he weeps as we weep. Jesus is moved by our grief. He knows that healing is coming. And yet, still he weeps. Because Mary and Martha weep. [00:49:24] (54 seconds)

Because, we're told that Jesus stands with us. He stands with us in our grief. His answer to Mary's anguish is not to lecture her or to chastise her. He does not explain himself. He doesn't defend the delay. Instead, he stands. He stands with her. He moves towards that tomb and he weeps. Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. And, he weeps as we weep. [00:49:24] (40 seconds)

Because, we're told that Jesus stands with us. He stands with us in our grief. His answer to Mary's anguish is not to lecture her or to chastise her. He does not explain himself. He doesn't defend the delay. Instead, he stands. He stands with her. He moves towards that tomb and he weeps. Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. And, he weeps as we weep. [00:49:24] (40 seconds)

we're told that Jesus stands with us. He stands with us in our grief. His answer to Mary's anguish is not to lecture her or to chastise her. He does not explain himself. He doesn't defend the delay. Instead, he stands. He stands with her. He moves towards that tomb and he weeps. Jesus does not watch our grief from a distance, But, he enters it. And, he weeps as we weep. Jesus [00:49:24] (41 seconds)