34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” John 11:34-36
By far this is one of the most quoted or known scriptures by Christians and non-Christians and while it is even used as the punch line in jokes regarding knowing scriptures.....there is little to laugh at when you peel back the emotions packaged in these three words.....that our LORD wept.
By definition weep is : to express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears; shed tears; cry
And we can over spiritualize this, talk about well did he really cry, was He really stricken with grief and overpowering emotions to the point of shedding tears...or was this a figure of speech, but I submit to you this.....they followed that comment by a testimony of those standing nearby that said : "See how much he loved him!"
Last week I came to the gripping reality that a team, a group, a family of people that I spent 9+ years of my life over 40k hours of laughing, frustrations, working, playing, maturing and growing with and that would be changing to which I wouldn't see there faces daily anymore. I wouldn't get to hear about the lives of....inappropriate conversations about, etc. So I had my moments especially during the party they threw for me, that I needed to get away to privately weep. Then when we took a picture where I was positioned and took my knee....that it hit me GOD was constantly calling me to serve these people, and at that moment my former years flashed before my eyes...to which my weeping increased.
Today, as I drove past my normal exit to go to SSM, and my brain switch actually flipped to the new normal and I proceeded to 70 to head towards Calvary Church MR, again GOD THEN revealed to me the sum total of all of my life's events, and that they led me to this new normal! To which I found myself weeping while, driving at times having to remember THAT I AM DRIVING, so I couldn't lose myself in my tears....but WHY was I crying?
Folks.....I give you the answer the witnesses of Jesus tears gave: " See how much he loved (them)!" I didn't just love my job, what I did.......I LOVED THEM (and still do). I can honestly tell you all, that not only did I have my circle of FRIENDS, I never forgot those that weren't those that I couldn't share the depths of my soul with, but I could share enough that they would know me, and in turn they'd allow me an opportunity to know them, understand them, and give me a pathway to love them. But not only these people at SSM did I love, I too loved the people at my church.....NOT JUST CONNECTIONS where I pastor now, but ANYONE that GOD has given me a moment to meet......and I am willing to spend the rest of my life now....loving all of them into HIS KINGDOM, not just in word, but in deed as much as possible.
WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS.....because GOD wasn't kidding when HE GAVE THE COMMANDMENT to US to LOVE HIM, and LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
For now my tears are on pause, and I realize the goodness of GOD upon my life, and the opportunities he continues to bestow upon me to continue to love His people. I pray you too....discover his will for your life regarding the greatest two commandments. LGLP
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” John 11:34-36
By far this is one of the most quoted or known scriptures by Christians and non-Christians and while it is even used as the punch line in jokes regarding knowing scriptures.....there is little to laugh at when you peel back the emotions packaged in these three words.....that our LORD wept.
By definition weep is : to express grief, sorrow, or any overpowering emotion by shedding tears; shed tears; cry
And we can over spiritualize this, talk about well did he really cry, was He really stricken with grief and overpowering emotions to the point of shedding tears...or was this a figure of speech, but I submit to you this.....they followed that comment by a testimony of those standing nearby that said : "See how much he loved him!"
Last week I came to the gripping reality that a team, a group, a family of people that I spent 9+ years of my life over 40k hours of laughing, frustrations, working, playing, maturing and growing with and that would be changing to which I wouldn't see there faces daily anymore. I wouldn't get to hear about the lives of....inappropriate conversations about, etc. So I had my moments especially during the party they threw for me, that I needed to get away to privately weep. Then when we took a picture where I was positioned and took my knee....that it hit me GOD was constantly calling me to serve these people, and at that moment my former years flashed before my eyes...to which my weeping increased.
Today, as I drove past my normal exit to go to SSM, and my brain switch actually flipped to the new normal and I proceeded to 70 to head towards Calvary Church MR, again GOD THEN revealed to me the sum total of all of my life's events, and that they led me to this new normal! To which I found myself weeping while, driving at times having to remember THAT I AM DRIVING, so I couldn't lose myself in my tears....but WHY was I crying?
Folks.....I give you the answer the witnesses of Jesus tears gave: " See how much he loved (them)!" I didn't just love my job, what I did.......I LOVED THEM (and still do). I can honestly tell you all, that not only did I have my circle of FRIENDS, I never forgot those that weren't those that I couldn't share the depths of my soul with, but I could share enough that they would know me, and in turn they'd allow me an opportunity to know them, understand them, and give me a pathway to love them. But not only these people at SSM did I love, I too loved the people at my church.....NOT JUST CONNECTIONS where I pastor now, but ANYONE that GOD has given me a moment to meet......and I am willing to spend the rest of my life now....loving all of them into HIS KINGDOM, not just in word, but in deed as much as possible. WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS.....because GOD wasn't kidding when HE GAVE THE COMMANDMENT to US to LOVE HIM, and LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
For now my tears are on pause, and I realize the goodness of GOD upon my life, and the opportunities he continues to bestow upon me to continue to love His people. I pray you too....discover his will for your life regarding the greatest two commandments. LGLP
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