Saturday Morning

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening (Collect for Purity)

Almighty God: to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of my heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ my Lord. Amen.
__________

Morning Reading – John 11:28-44 (NLT)

Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” So Mary immediately went to him.

Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them.

They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.

But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”

Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
__________

Morning Reflection:

What moves Jesus to tears?

In today’s reading, Jesus displays a range of human emotions that move him to tears. Mary comes out to greet him accompanied by friends weeping and wailing over the death of Lazarus.

“If only you had been here….” she laments. (vs 32)

And how did Jesus respond?

When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her,
a deep anger welled up within him (he was angry in his spirit),
and he was deeply troubled. (vs 33)

Then Jesus wept. (vs 35)

We don’t know exactly why Jesus wept, but we do have some clues –

+ Love for his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus – Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, understood and fully entered into their pain and suffering.

+ Dismay over their unbelief – Jesus, the Son of God, sent by God to bring eternal life to those who live and believe in him.

+ Anger over the scourge of sin and death – Jesus, the Lamb of God, who would defeat sin and death once and for all on the cross.

Perhaps you can think of some other reasons that Jesus was moved to tears. But one thing is certain – Jesus freely joins us in our deepest pain and suffering to bring help, and healing, and hope; and to display the glory of God.

Questions for consideration:

• Can you remember a time when you thought “if only Jesus had been here…?” Please explain.
• Can you remember a time when you knew that Jesus was there with you in your pain and suffering? Please explain.
• What is the most difficult (seemingly impossible) circumstance you are currently facing? Can you trust Jesus to use it for your good and God’s glory? What do you think that might look like? Please explain.

__________

Morning Prayer:

Lord Jesus: Surround us with your Loving-kindness, and fill us with your Spirit that we might understand who you are and hold on to your promises, especially in our times of pain and suffering. Thank you for your great love for us. Thank you for holding on to us forever. Thank you for your gift of eternal life. Increase our faith that we might trust you in every circumstance and recognize the display of your glory. For your name’s sake we ask it. Amen.
__________

“In God We Trust” – Hillsong Worship

__________

Closing:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, and protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen