John 11.35 35 Jesus wept.
Today, I came up with a new acronym: S.C.A.N. It stands
for: Scripture, Confession, Application (or Acceptance), and Need. We scan the
Bible because it reveals itself to us and tells us things about ourselves that
we need to hear and need God to help us deal with.
Scan the Scripture regularly and routinely. Not
routine in the sense of duty or rote, but routinely in the sense of custom,
habit, and intention.
Confess the Scripture. If the Bible points out our
need, then, confess it. Speak back to the Father what He’s spoken to me.
Apply or Accept the Scripture. If God is speaking then I’m
to agree and apply. These are directions for daily living.
And then: Need. The Bible says God knows our need before we even speak it. He doesn’t
just know our needs but ultimately
and eternally, our need.
If we scan with
intensity, confess with honesty, accept eagerly, and trust our need will be (or already has been) taken
care of, then we’re in the best place we can be despite the swirling of circumstances
around us. Amen?
In John 11.35 we’re told simply: Jesus wept. It says just before this: Now when Mary came to where
Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had
been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the
Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and
greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him,
“Lord, come and see.” (Vv. 32-34) My question is: What happened!? Why was Jesus crying?
Well, the verse says He was deeply moved; He was touched
in a powerful way. Jesus knew why He was going to Bethany: He was going to
raise Lazarus. But when He arrived, He saw the need of the people there and (I
would assume) the need of all mankind in their willfulness and independence
from God. These few, at this place and time, were surely sheep without a
Shepherd. Jesus wept (I think) because He saw with human eyes, and with God’s
heart, that mankind was past the point of desperation and now was comatose
spiritually and there was so much to say and to do to redeem them. I
believe all of human history flashed before His eyes; and He then did the only
sane thing: He wept.
If anything will dry up tears and cause the heart to grow
cold it’s cynicism – that belief that things will never change and they’ll only
go from bad to worse; that God isn’t around, and nobody cares. I think that
perspective is enough to make even God cry.
In my heart the walls of cynicism, ridicule and sarcasm must come tumbling down. Most all people are truly sheep without a shepherd
and God cares deeply for them regardless of their plight. That’s why He sent
His Son to redeem them from the everlasting separation of hell; a death that no
one wants and yet millions upon millions choose to their own destruction.
My prayer today: Father, touch me in a powerful way and give me tears for my fellow man
and use me to tell them about You. Amen.
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