Wednesday in the Word...John 11:28-37...some more Maine pictures

Let's start with a picture to show that Stephanie and Buddy are doing well.  

This is a beautiful old railroad bridge spanning the Machias River.  The rails are gone and the bed is now used for foot, horse, snowmobile, and atv traffic.

Here is the bell of the Machias Valley Baptist Church.  The history is the maker of the bell was an apprentice to Paul Revere.  He is known for making bells with a more melodious sound.  

While up in the tower I took this shot looking out over the Machias River.  I keyed in on the door which is common in this area.  There are many very colorful front doors in this area of the country.  Maybe it was for direction purposes.  "Look for the house with the yellow door."

Out the front window of where we are staying, we have seen this color many evenings this summer.  We never get tired of seeing the sun light up the sky.

Just a little hint of what is to come.  We hope to take some day trips on the road to catch some of God's paintbrush in action.

Back at Jasper Beach and came across this little pile just begging for a picture to be taken.  I need to stop long enough to create one of these and leave my mark on the world.

One last photo of my beautiful wife.  I'm so thankful for the partner God gave me to walk this life with.

Today's Wednesday in the Word will cover John chapter 11 and verse 28 through 37.  

v.28, 29 - When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."  And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him.

Jesus has just completed a conversation with Martha that probably was confusing to her because Jesus identified that He was the resurrection now.  The resurrection was here.  Martha was giving the right answers but her mind was still wrapped up in the physical lose of her brother Lazarus.

Martha rushes to get her sister Mary who didn't come out of the house at the first proclamation that Jesus had come.  Martha whispers in Mary's ear so others do not hear that Jesus wants to meet her.  The one who previously sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to His teaching and would later anoint Jesus' feet with perfume got up and ran to Jesus.

v.30, 31 - Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.  Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

Jesus hasn't moved.  He stayed put so Mary would know exactly where He was.  Martha probably gave the GPS coordinates and because Jesus didn't move from the spot, she would find Him easily.  The secrecy of the message to Mary from Martha arises the curiosity of the mourners with Mary and follow her to Jesus' location.  It is a logical thought that the grieving sister would go back to the spot where they laid her brother to rest, as we learn later, 4 days ago.

v.32-35 - Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?"  They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."  Jesus wept.

Let us note a few observations about Jesus actions here.  Mary says almost the same statement as Martha but Jesus doesn't respond to her with words of theology.  He stands and observes how Mary and the group are responding to this situation.  The Jewish people would hire professional mourners and so it more than just shedding of tears but wailing and dirge flute playing that was going on.  

Jesus was deeply moved and troubled.  Why?  It seems like normal activity for the situation at hand.  But the word for "deeply moved" means that Jesus was actually angered by their response.  The grief must have been so laden with despair that no hope of a future resurrection was being displayed.  They were the chosen people of the God of the covenant who gives hope after death.  Jesus troubled and therefore He weeps.  The word for "wept" is not a loud lament but rather a quiet shedding of tears.

What is Jesus weeping about?  I don't think it is Lazarus' death because He has already said that He was coming to wake him up.  I think Jesus was weeping over the entanglement of sin and the sorrow it brings to even the chosen people of God.  He was weeping because they were still caught up in the physical death and not looking at the future glory.  It troubles Him that His chosen people are so focused on the here and now.  

v.36, 37 - So the Jews were saying, "See how He loved him!"  But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?"

There is always a divided crowd around Jesus.  Some see Jesus' tears and some spend their energy criticizing Him.  Those pointing to Jesus' tears limit His power in this situation.  "See how He loved him!" is past tense.  Those pointing to Jesus' lack of priorities to be present prior to Lazarus' death limit His ability because He is just a man.  Jesus has done some great things like heal the blind man but apparently His super powers gave out.

The next verse will let us see Jesus' response and He is again "deeply moved."  He has a personal indignation rising up in Him for how the people were responding.  How quickly they turned from the power of God being shown lately and also the fulfillment of the covenant of God to His own.  

This makes me question myself.  Do I limit Jesus?  Do I act like the world at times and put God in a box of His past accomplishments?  Do I forgot what the end of the story is and what is in store for those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life?  This group is on the brink of one of the greatest miracles of all time and also having front row seats to the display of Jesus as God.  Do I see that I might be in the same place at times with my God and how am I treating Him before it happens?  Am I saying it is too late or He is too small?  Why am I pointing at Him when really I should be pointing at myself?

"Heavenly Father, I know You must get 'deeply moved' and 'troubled' with me at times.  I pray for actions that show Your presence and power at all times.  What seems late to me is not for You.  What seems too big to me is not too big for You.  May I be praying in the positive rather than speaking in the negative.  Amen."

Pastor Adam