Someday all of us will pass into eternity and leave loved ones behind. When this time comes there will be those left behind that will weep because of the separation. Some will weep with hope. Others weep with no hope either for themselves or the loved one they lost because they have never taken the step of placing their faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Weep in Hope during Sorrow
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were people of deep faith. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha had hope. They knew that someday they would see their brother again because of their faith in Jesus.They did not know that Jesus would raise Lazarus from the dead. Even though Lazarus came back to life, someday in the future he would die again and be forever in heaven.
John 11:20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” 25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”[1]
Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life and that those who believe in Me as their Savior will live again even after physical death.” Here Jesus is talking about people being connected to Him by faith. John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6[2]
Jesus and Weeping
Are you connected to Jesus by faith in Him?There is no more critical question that will impact your eternity more than this one. Jesus, in Revelation 21:4, reveals about those in heaven, “He (Jesus) will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” [3]
In Matthew 13:42 those in hell, who did not place their faith in Jesus, will themselves be weeping. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.[4]
Prayer
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and there is nothing that I can do to save myself. I confess my complete helplessness to forgive my own sin or to work my way to heaven. At this moment I trust Christ alone as the One who bore my sin when He died on the cross. I believe that He did all that will ever be necessary for me to stand in your holy presence. I thank you that Christ was raised from the dead as a guarantee of my own resurrection. As best as I can, I now transfer my trust to Him. I am grateful that He has promised to receive me despite my many sins and failures. Father, I take you at your word. I thank you that I can face death now that you are my Savior. Thank you for the assurance that you will walk with me through the deep valley and hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. [5]
To hear more about Mary and Martha’s encounter with Jesus, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/encountering-jesus-with-lazarus
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[5] https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/the-sinners-prayer-4-examples.html