The Law in 90 Days: Numbers 21-22
SCRIPTURE MEDITATION
John 11:35 (NIV); Jesus wept.
This is a very poignant moment in Scripture. Lazarus has died, and seeing Mary weeping at
His feet and the mourners weeping all around, Jesus is “deeply moved in His spirit and greatly
troubled” and He, too, starts to weep. It’s interesting. The Father has already revealed that He will
bring Lazarus to life (see v 11), so Jesus cannot be crying out of loss. But this moment is important
enough that God would have it recorded in Scripture.
As God incarnate, Jesus displayed the very character of God in a tangible and relatable way.
God is a God of compassion, He is a Comforter and He values friendship, He has sympathy and
shows empathy. Jesus feels along with us. It’s really an incredible thing that God Himself came
down to earth to live among us. God in a self-sufficient, uncreated, personal Being, and as such,
anything at all that we can understand about Him is a gracious gift. It is awesome that He would
bring Himself to our level – the level of His creation. Through the person of Jesus Christ, we are
able to see God Himself interact with His creation in a personal way. In light of this revelation, it
is powerful to see Christ weep. Many people view tears as a sign of weakness, but it is quite the
opposite. This picture of Jesus weeping shows us that grief is ok, and that our grief is shared by
our Lord. It compels us to bear one another’s burdens and to show tender grace to those who are
hurting.
What an awe-inspiring God we serve.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. When has God used another believer to comfort you and to show compassion?
2. Do you look for opportunities to comfort others? Are you quick to bear another’s burden? Ask
God to open your eyes to these opportunities today, and to help you to be like Christ.
3. Have you tried to suppress feelings of grief from the Lord? Share anything that is on your
heart today with Him. Meditate on who Jesus is as God incarnate, tangible and relevant to
you today.
