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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion March 7, 2008 Jesus wept |
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Frontline Devotion for Friday, March 7, 2008 by Mike Martine
John 11: 34-37
"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"
But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have
kept this man from dying?"
This verse is considered surprising by many. And I think the reason “why” is directly related to some faulty ideas about Christ.
We sometimes tend to treat Jesus as a cross between the “Shell Answer Man” (the guy who knew it all, all the time) and a puppet on a string.
By “a puppet” I mean that we sometimes think Jesus wasn’t “real” in the way you and I are “real.” That he was simply an actor in God’s cosmic drama; above, in a way, any real emotions and/or feelings.
And because we think this way, we are surprised when honest emotion, brought about by honest pain in life, brings tears to his eyes.
The more we understand that the incarnation, God’s coming to us and taking on flesh, was a sign that God is involved in this life (and not “above” it), the more we understand that Jesus was real—the way we are real.
And the more we understand that God is with us now—when we laugh, when we dance, when cry for joy, and when the tears come in mourning…
God is with us now. As God was with us then.
Jesus wept.
Perhaps that’s another way to say, “Emmanuel.”
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
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