In John 11:28-37 we are told the story of Lazarus's death.
Lazarus died, but Jesus came a whole four days later after Lazarus's death. Mary and Martha cried and said to Jesus "Lord, you are too late! He is dead!" “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
After this, the Bible says that Jesus wept. Jesus Christ WEPT!
Most preachers will tell you that Jesus cries to show us his compassion for the sisters in their loss. Others say that he weeps because he and Lazarus were really good friends and Jesus just lost a good friend.
These are all good interpretations, but let's think of it this way: Let's say you just broke your bike and you begin whining and crying about it even though your parents are about to buy you a new one. Why are you crying? Do you not believe your parents when they say they are going to get you a new bike? Where is your faith?
And that is exactly it!
Jesus wept not because he lost a good friend, not because he felt bad for the two sisters, but because Mary and Martha didn't have faith in him that he could heal him even if he was four days late. Jesus wasn't late! He was right on time! God's time! They didn't have faith is Jesus!
How would you feel if someone you loved didn't trust you or didn't believe that you could do something? Wouldn't you feel bad? Wouldn't you want to weep as well?
Guys, Jesus is a pretty epic dude. He can do so much for you and he will! But it tears him down to know that his own followers don't believe in him and don't have faith. It hurts him! Nobody wants to be hurt, so don't do that to him! Have faith in God and everything will be just fine!
Challenge of the week: (I haven't done one of these in a while!) Read John 11:28-37. I know you've probably heard the story or read it a thousand times, but this time I would like you to read it as if you were Jesus in the story. Try to feel how you think he would feel after discovering that his friends don't have faith in him. Really, truly feel it. And then, this week I want you to pray every morning that each day you will have faith in God, and that you will trust in him that you can get through the day. I know it's the end of the school year and everything seems kind of meh and blah right now, but put your faith in God and like I said, everything will be just fine!
Have an amazing day! Stay strong and beautiful because you are! Be you! ☺
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One Step Closer
RandomThis is a book of devotionals, challenges, encouragement, quotes, Bible verses, videos, and anything else to get you that one step closer to God that you need and to help you be an overall better person, even though you are already beautiful, amazin...
