ReAD John 11:1-44
Near the beginning of his classic book on the spiritual life, Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer wrote, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Put another way, our conception of God—the way we think about God—will shape everything about us, including how we live out our relationship with God.
Perhaps all of us have met someone whose way of thinking about God is warped by an experience or a relationship or something else that has negatively impacted them. Perhaps we have seen that in our own lives as well. We should not be surprised by this, but when we encounter it we should face into it lest we lose our way.
When we read John 11 and find Jesus weeping at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, this tells us something profound. As fully human and fully divine, Jesus’ tears bring us initially inside the life of redeemed humanity, letting us know that our tears are not part of sin but part of what it means to be human. Next, Jesus’ tears tell us something profound about God, that the space between what God desires for humanity and the world and the reality of sin-shaped human experience in the world is marked by tears.
It is clear that Jesus weeps simultaneously in grief over His friend’s death and also in anger over the impact of sin upon a fallen humanity and world. Here at the tomb of Lazarus, we see first the tears of compassion that flow from the heart of God. As Jesus meets Martha, then Mary—Lazarus’ two sisters and Jesus’ dear friends—He is deeply moved. This episode takes us back to words often spoken about God in the Bible: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8; cf. Exodus 34:6; 2 Chronicles 30:9; Psalm 86:15). Where the divine being of Plato and his philosophical followers was “an unmoved mover,” the God of the Bible is constant in being richly full of compassion toward humanity and the world.
In His incarnation, and specifically here in His tears, Jesus offers us a powerful gift: a glimpse into the heart of God that overflows with compassion for a lost world.
For Reflection:
- Each Sunday we include discussion questions on the sermon insert that can be used for deeper reflection and/or small group discussions. You can find a digital version online at eastbrook.org/tearsofJesus.
By Pastor Matt Erickson
Family Talk: Week 1
Object Lesson: Bare Branch or Dried Leaves
- Young children: How does this branch feel? What words can you use to describe it? How do you think the branch got this way: dry, rough, brittle?
- Older kids: What does a dry branch like this make you think of? How would this branch look different if it were still a part of the tree it came from?
Say
In our natural world, things start from a seed, or are born as a baby. They grow and change. Some animals hibernate in winter or some plants go “dormant” – they don’t grow or produce fruit. In spring, though, these animals and plants wake up, begin to eat and drink, and move about in the sunshine. They seem to “come to life” again! But, try to Imagine living through winter without ever knowing about spring! What would you be thinking? How would you feel?
Read
John 11: 1-44 or read the story of Lazarus from a story Bible.
Connect
You know what winter is like. There are fewer hours of daylight. No plants are growing. Tree branches are bare. The skies are not filled with birdsong. But, because this happens every year, we know that springtime will come again. All along, Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead. This is why He delayed his trip when he heard that Lazarus was seriously ill. Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, did not know this. It’s kind of like they were walking through winter, not knowing about springtime. Even though Jesus has power over life and death, and He knew what He would do for Lazarus, He wept. He felt so sad thinking that Mary, Martha, and the others watching did not have hope to see their friend again. They did not know that Jesus would overcome sin and death. When we’re sad, Jesus has compassion for us, too. He understands our sadness.
Family Storytelling:
- Parents: Share about a time when God brought someone to you who comforted you in a time of sadness or loss.
- Kids: Share about a time when you felt sad. What difference would it make to know that Jesus sees your sadness and understands how it feels? What might you tell Jesus?