Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows … Isaiah 53:4

As most of you know, I lost my dad on January 27 of this year. Since that day, I  have cried about a million tears, both of joy and of sadness, sometimes all at the same time, and I know I am not done yet. After all, I am a Daddy’s Girl.

Although I am ecstatic to know that my dad is finally healed after many years of suffering, selfishly I admit that my heart is broken because he is no longer here with me. In my grief, I am greatly comforted to know that, not only is my Savior loving me and holding me through this, but He also understands my grief.

When Lazarus died, He was moved to tears for both Lazarus and his grieving sisters. Jesus was human in every way. He is God in every way.

John 11:33 says, “When Jesus saw her (Mary) weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled …” Then in verse 35, in one of the shortest and most poignant verses in the bible, the scripture continues, “Jesus wept.”

This story has an even deeper message of Jesus’ love for us. Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus tells His disciples that Lazarus’ sickness would not end in death and that it was for God’s glory.

It is easy to see that God was glorified when Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead. But we can’t miss that Jesus went on a suicide mission back to Judea to comfort Mary and Martha and to heal Lazarus. Jesus was crucified not long after. He took the risk to return, not only for the people there that day, but for us (future generations) so we would believe that He was the Son of God.

He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scouring we are healed … (Isaiah 53:3-5)

When we miss this precious gift, we miss it all. And that breaks the heart of God.

Thank you for sharing this post and your comments below.

Dear Lord: Thank You for Your promises to be near to the brokenhearted and that You save the crushed in spirit. Thank You that, through His life, Jesus showed us how to love. Through His death, He showed us how to live. Amen