Jesus Was Deeply Moved

by Hugh DeLong

When Lazarus, Jesus’ friend, died, Scripture states twice that Jesus was “deeply moved” (John 11:33, 38). The Scriptures encourage us:

"Cast your cares upon Him, for He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7).

"We have a high priest that can be ‘touched by our sorrows’" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Yet, many feel as did Mary: “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). If God is there and if God cares, why did this happen to me? A universal question asked time and time again!

The ultimate solution is simply that God will make things right, but ‘in His time.’ God will raise the dead and take away all sorrow and the things that cause it (read the last two chapters of Revelation again). It is understandable that unbelievers (unbelieving both in God and in Jesus) can get stuck wanting an answer for the here and now, but believers must look beyond.

God has promised! Do you trust Him? Understanding the why isn't necessary to trust. Many of our why questions center on events that are quite common – sickness, deprivation, death, etc. These are simply ‘common to man’, and as humans, we share in such experiences. Yet, we have God, we have Jesus, we have hope, we have the very promise of God. Lord, help my unbelief! Lord, strengthen my trust to help in such times of testing.

I have often wondered: if Lazarus died the second time, would Mary ask the same question? Having seen ‘the end’ of the story of his first death, would she be consoled in the event of his second death? Would you be?