DOES JESUS CARE?

March 13

Bible Reading: John 11:28-37

John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”

I’ve officiated lots of funerals in lots of places, but none like the funeral for Lazarus.  It was customary in those days to put the body in the ground right away.  Folks would come to the home of the deceased.  Then a procession would follow to wherever the body was to be placed.  Afterwards, the people would return home, and mourners would stay for seven days.  No levity was to be expressed. Instead, there was mourning in which folks wailed loudly.  Sometimes they even hired professional mourners.  Folks would bring food.  Everyone would embrace the family and express their sympathy.  But all that happened occurred amid loud expressions of grief.

The use of different Greek terms distinguishes how Jesus wept from Mary’s weeping.  Jesus shed tears (dakruo), whereas Mary expressed her grief with loud weeping (klaio).  Why was Jesus weeping?  He knew He was soon to raise Lazarus, having previously told that to His disciples (John 11:4).  He could have said, “Stop crying everybody, I’m about to put a quick end to this funeral!”  But He who had come in the flesh, to embrace our sin at the cross, embraced the sorrow of those who were grieving (John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14).  He was, after all, “A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief,” who came to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:3-4)!

Put simply, He came alongside those He loved and entered into their sorrow, having come to embrace the source of it all.  We are to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).  Jesus is the best example in every virtuous thing, and so He is here.  They were sorrowful, no one understands sorrow better than He.  His tears evidenced His love, every drop proof He cared. He would grant greater evidence at the cross in His willing sacrifice: “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16)!

You’ve your own sorrows, as do we all.  Trace them all back to sin and the curse.  But then turn your eyes to Jesus.  Not only does He care deeply for you (beyond the limits of any human), He can even work to turn your “mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13).  One day, in heaven, he will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4), in the meantime we can trust Him to care (1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 4:15-16)!

“O yes, He cares.  I know He cares!  His heart is touched with my grief!”

DOES JESUS CARE?
Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief I find no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long? [Refrain]

Does Jesus care when I’ve said goodbye
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
Is it aught to Him? does He see? [Refrain]