I've been studying John 11 this week- Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. I LOVE it! There's a never-ending supply of lessons from this chapter. This morning I read Tim Keller's chapter on John 11 in his book, Encounters With Jesus. Below are some of the things which 'wowed' me: (I've taken Keller's words exactly)
Martha comes to Jesus and says, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." Just moments later, Mary comes and out and says the same thing verbatim. Two sisters, same situation, exactly the same words. But strikingly, Jesus' responses are sharply different. When Martha speaks he almost argues with her. Her message is "You came too late," but Jesus replies, "I am the resurrection and the life! With me it's never too late." the flow of her heart is toward despair, but Jesus is pushing against that flow. He's rebuking her doubt and giving her hope. Then he sees Mary, who says exactly the same thing, but this time his response is the complete opposite. He doesn't argue; in fact he's practically speechless. And instead of pushing against the flow of her heart's sadness, he enters it. He stands alongside her in her grief. He bursts into tears and can say only, "Where is he?"
.....We see deity joined to human vulnerability. Despite his claim that he is the resurrection and the life...he responds to Mary in this way because he is fully human as well. He is one with us. He feels the horrific power of death and the grief of love lost.
Jesus gives Martha what we would call the ministry of truth. That is what she needs most at that moment. He sorts of grabs her by the shoulders with truth. "Listen to me! Don't despair. I'm here. Resurrection. Life. That's what I am." Because of his divine identity, he is high enough to point her to the stars. Then, when he gets to Mary, he gives her what we would call the ministry of tears. That is what she needs most at that moment. Because of his human identity, he is low enough to step into her sorrow- with complete sincerity and integrity- and just weep with her.
Now, frankly, everybody needs a ministry of truth and a ministry of tears at different times. Sometimes you need more of the bracing truth; you need to be shaken by a loving friend who says, "Wake up and look around you." Other times you really just need somebody to weep with you. Sometimes to lay truth on people when they're grieved is absolutely wrong, but other times just to weep with them and not tell them the truth is equally wrong. None of us have the temperament or the patience or the insight to give people exactly what they need all the time. Some of us have personalities that are prone to confront even when sympathy is called for, and others of us are the opposite. But Jesus Christ is never strong when he should be tender or tender when he should be strong. Yet it isn't just that he is the perfect, wonderful counsellor. He is the truth itself come in tears. He is deity incarnate in the flesh.
It is this paradox- that he is both God and human- that gives Jesus an overwhelming beauty. He is the Lion and the Lamb. Despite his high claims, he is never pompous. Despite being absolutely approachable to the weakest and broken, he is completely fearless before the corrupt and powerful. He has tenderness without weakness. Strength without harshness. Humility without the slightest lack of confidence.
(Part 2 here)
Martha comes to Jesus and says, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died." Just moments later, Mary comes and out and says the same thing verbatim. Two sisters, same situation, exactly the same words. But strikingly, Jesus' responses are sharply different. When Martha speaks he almost argues with her. Her message is "You came too late," but Jesus replies, "I am the resurrection and the life! With me it's never too late." the flow of her heart is toward despair, but Jesus is pushing against that flow. He's rebuking her doubt and giving her hope. Then he sees Mary, who says exactly the same thing, but this time his response is the complete opposite. He doesn't argue; in fact he's practically speechless. And instead of pushing against the flow of her heart's sadness, he enters it. He stands alongside her in her grief. He bursts into tears and can say only, "Where is he?"
.....We see deity joined to human vulnerability. Despite his claim that he is the resurrection and the life...he responds to Mary in this way because he is fully human as well. He is one with us. He feels the horrific power of death and the grief of love lost.
Jesus gives Martha what we would call the ministry of truth. That is what she needs most at that moment. He sorts of grabs her by the shoulders with truth. "Listen to me! Don't despair. I'm here. Resurrection. Life. That's what I am." Because of his divine identity, he is high enough to point her to the stars. Then, when he gets to Mary, he gives her what we would call the ministry of tears. That is what she needs most at that moment. Because of his human identity, he is low enough to step into her sorrow- with complete sincerity and integrity- and just weep with her.
Now, frankly, everybody needs a ministry of truth and a ministry of tears at different times. Sometimes you need more of the bracing truth; you need to be shaken by a loving friend who says, "Wake up and look around you." Other times you really just need somebody to weep with you. Sometimes to lay truth on people when they're grieved is absolutely wrong, but other times just to weep with them and not tell them the truth is equally wrong. None of us have the temperament or the patience or the insight to give people exactly what they need all the time. Some of us have personalities that are prone to confront even when sympathy is called for, and others of us are the opposite. But Jesus Christ is never strong when he should be tender or tender when he should be strong. Yet it isn't just that he is the perfect, wonderful counsellor. He is the truth itself come in tears. He is deity incarnate in the flesh.
It is this paradox- that he is both God and human- that gives Jesus an overwhelming beauty. He is the Lion and the Lamb. Despite his high claims, he is never pompous. Despite being absolutely approachable to the weakest and broken, he is completely fearless before the corrupt and powerful. He has tenderness without weakness. Strength without harshness. Humility without the slightest lack of confidence.
(Part 2 here)
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