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The Cry of Unbelief Makes Jesus Weep April 14, 2008 By Randy Bailey
Each time
I read the account of the death of Lazarus, I am reminded of how
our unbelief causes Christ to weep. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
were friends of Jesus and He loved all three of them. They knew
about His power and authority; they heard Him teach and knew of
His miracles. Mary and Martha had sent a messenger to find Jesus
to tell Him that their brother was sick. Instead of
going immediately, Jesus waited a couple days before He and the
disciples started the trip to Bethany where Lazarus lived. Upon
His arrival, Jesus is met by Martha with a statement of doubt.
“If you would have been here, my brother would not have died.”
In other words, “It is your fault that Lazarus is dead because
you were late getting here.” In response to Martha's words
of doubt, Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
I am sure
Jesus desired to hear Martha say, “I know you are the Christ and
are able to raise Lazarus from the dead because you are greater
than death and you are stronger than the grave.” That would have
been a statement of faith. The Sadness of Christ Jesus now looks at the sadness of the crowd and is troubled. He does not see any faith in those who have gathered at the burial site. Martha walks away and her sister Mary comes to Christ with the accusation.
John writes,
“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she
fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been
here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping,
and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the
spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They
said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews,
Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this
man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even
this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning
in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay
upon it” (John 11:32-38). Jesus looks
at the crowd that had gathered and groans as He witnesses everyone
crying. The truth is that Jesus is crying because of their unbelief.
He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, and yet the
people allowed their natural eyes to rob them of their faith.
Some of the people admitted that He could open the eyes of the
blind, but death was final. Martha, on
the other hand, had some faith, but she also doubted that Jesus
could do the impossible. How many times do we read in scripture
where faith was the key factor to a miracle? Jesus had said to
many people, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Beyond Help Is your situation
beyond hope? Have you put your problem in a tomb and sealed it
with a large stone because you have given up? What will you do
when Jesus decides to come to your Bethany and meet with you?
Will He find accusations and doubt or will He find someone who
will say, “Lord, the situation looks hopeless, but I still trust
in you and believe that you are the resurrection and the life.”
God is able
to do the impossible, He is still the author and finisher of our
faith, He is still the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Mountains
still tremble in His presence and every knee will still bow down
at the mention of His name. He simply wants us to believe.
© 2008, Randy
Bailey ---------- Randy Bailey has been writing spiritual poems/devotions for the past eight years. Randy has one wife and three sons. Richard, Ryan, and Rodney are grown and on their own while Randy and Peggy live in Georgia. Randy and Peggy attend the First United Pentecostal Church of Warner Robins. Randy has recently had his book Spiritual Snacks published, and it is available at www.Amazon.com (plug). Randy loves to throw the seed through his writings.
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