Jesus wept. – John 11:35

The shortest verse in the bible.  Jesus wept.

Here he is, God incarnate.  Holy One.  Emmanuel.  Lord. Savior. Weeper.

Why was the all powerful Jesus weeping?  Look to verse 33.

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.

Jesus knew of the miracle he was to perform.  He knew at the end everything would be okay but in the middle of it all there was much commotion and emotion. How many times throughout scripture do we see that Jesus had compassion on people?  Many.  Most of Jesus’ miracles were performed when Jesus was in transit between two locations.  It was his compassion, his heart that allowed him to stop to help and to heal.

Here we see Jesus so in tune with the emotion of those around him that he broke down in tears.

Lets look at today as an opportunity to notice the world around us.  Truth be told we often don’t notice the emotions and circumstances of others because we’re completely wrapped up in the emotions and circumstances of self.  If we follow Christ’s example however we will begin to perceive the welfare of others as worthy of getting our emotion.

There may be times as a Christ-follower when you’re up against your own mountain of pain.  You may ‘know’ that it will all be okay.  You may completely trust that Jesus will proverbially raise the dead but in the middle of it all you may just need to release a few tears.  It’s okay.  Allowing yourself to have emotion isn’t sin. Even when you know with your mind that God will come through there are times when your own faculties just need to weep. In the midst of your weeping don’t lose sight of Jesus because He is indeed the One with the power to turn it all around.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:10-11

This passage is one of the most promising in all of scripture. Jesus sets himself apart from all of the other phonies who have existed.  There had been crazies before who had the Messiah complex but they were all in it for themselves.

Do you know what it’s like to be around people who only care for themselves?  Have you ever been around a ‘thief’ in a relationship?

The thief comes into your life for what they can take… emotionally, materially, spiritually… but Jesus sets himself apart and reminds us that he came that we might actually experience and abundant life… a life to the full.

The options are set. On one hand we can live for many of the imposters and phony false gods or we can live for the one true Messiah who laid his life down for us.

Today as you live you will have many opportunities to live for Christ your shepherd or to live for some other phony false god.  Do your faith a favor, choose life. Choose to live for the One who died for you. In doing so you will find what it’s like to live an abundant life, a life that is rich in Christ and His love.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” – John 9:3

The question of ‘why’ comes from the pursuit to understand God. Often people presume God’s answer in their own question. In this man’s case the presumption was that someone must have sinned.  In Jesus reply we see the sovereign work of a powerful God.

You may be faced with an obstacle in your way today. It could be a physical illness, a spiritual dry spell or some other locked door in your life.  Well meaning people will look for easy explanations.  Explaining away God’s plan is often the specialty of those who want quick fixes, not the face of God.

Jesus offered a whole new answer to the question of “why”. Jesus said “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

What if the situation you’re facing is the precursor to a miracle of God? Would you be willing to endure your trial if you knew that God was setting you up to see him work like no one else?  If you were about to have a supernatural interaction from a holy God, would you press forward in your trial?

Never cut God short or attempt to answer on His behalf. Certainly search your heart, follow Him and walk according to His word but at the end of the day your challenge may simply be present so that God may use you as the canvass on which He displays his next great masterpiece!

Invite God to show up and use your situation for His glory today. There is nothing greater than seeing God use you in a mighty way for His name and fame to be made known to the world.