Shared Tears

 

Scripture Reading: John 11:28–37

Jesus wept. 

John 11:35

Sometimes the greatest comfort comes from someone willing to sit beside us and share our sorrow. When Mary hears that Jesus is calling for her, she goes to him, falls at his feet, and says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Jesus sees her weeping and the mourners around her. Deeply moved and troubled, he asks where Lazarus has been laid. Then John  records two unforgettable words: “Jesus wept.” The One who will call Lazarus from the tomb enters the sorrow of those standing beside it. Jesus’s tears reveal a love that draws close to human suffering. Psalm 34:18 assures us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Charles Spurgeon, who spoke openly about his recurring experiences of depression and melancholy, wrote, “Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers.” When words fail, we can still bring our sorrow before God. Psalm 6:8 declares that the Lord has heard our weeping, while Romans 8:26 assures us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes through wordless groans. We may trust God deeply and still ache with loss. Jesus’ tears make room for ours. As a resurrection people, we hold sorrow and hope together, trusting that the Savior who conquered death also understands the pain of separation.

Henri Nouwen describes compassion as “suffering with, being with, crying out with, feeling with.” Such love invites us to accompany others through their grief. We can listen patiently, remember a loved one by name, bring a meal, or remain present after others have returned to their routines. Matthew Henry reminds us that when we share the tears of those who suffer, we reflect the compassion of Christ. Paul invites us to draw alongside those who grieve and share their sorrow (Romans 12:15). Through these simple acts, we become resurrection people who share Christ’s compassion, bringing his comfort and hope into another person’s sorrow.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Comfort us in our sorrow and help us draw close to those who grieve. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living Hope

 

Scripture Reading: John 11:17–27

I am the resurrection and the life. 

The one who believes in me will live, 

even though they die.

John 11:25

“If only…” These words often accompany grief and disappointment. If only help had arrived sooner. If only circumstances had been different. Martha brings her own “if only” to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days, and her sorrow is deep. Yet she comes to Jesus, bringing both her disappointment and her continuing trust. He receives her words and draws her into conversation. We, too, can bring our questions honestly before him. Psalm 62:8 invites us to pour out our hearts to God, confident that he is our refuge. Faith gives us somewhere to take our grief.

When Jesus promises that her brother will rise again, Martha affirms her belief in the resurrection at the last day. Then Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” The One who holds her future stands before her in the present. Peter assures us that God has given us a living hope through Christ’s resurrection from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). Living hope grows as we learn to entrust ourselves to Jesus, whose presence sustains us today and whose promise holds our future. Even death cannot destroy the life we have in him.

Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26). Before Lazarus emerges from the tomb, she confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Martha’s confession reminds us that faith can take root in sorrow. Before she sees what Jesus will do, she declares whom she believes. As a resurrection people, we are invited to trust him amid our uncertainties. Because Jesus lives, we can face today with courage, accompany those who mourn, and entrust our future to his care. His promise becomes our reassurance: “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19).

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Strengthen our living hope in Jesus. Meet us in our sorrow, deepen our trust, and help us share your comfort with others. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trusting Love

Scripture Reading: John 11:1–16

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 

“Lord, the one you love is sick.”

John 11:3 

Waiting is especially painful when someone we love is suffering. We pray, look for improvement, and wonder why God seems silent. Mary and Martha knew that anguish. Their message to Jesus was simple: the one you love is sick. They trusted his love and believed he would respond. Yet John places two surprising truths together: Jesus loved this family, and he remained where he was for two more days. His delay did not cancel his love, though those waiting in Bethany could hardly have understood it. As a resurrection people, we learn to trust that Christ’s love holds us even when his timing remains a mystery.

Matthew Henry observed, “The delays of mercy are not to be construed the denials of prayer.” His words encourage us to keep bringing our needs to God when answers seem distant. Perhaps we are waiting for healing, reconciliation, or direction. We cannot assume every situation will unfold as Lazarus’s story did, but we can entrust ourselves to the same faithful Lord. Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s compassion never fails and his mercies are new every morning. Resurrection hope sustains us through uncertainty, helping us place our unanswered questions into God’s care and receive strength for today.

When Jesus announces his return to Judea, the disciples remind him of the danger. Still, he goes. His love moves toward suffering, anticipating the cross. Thomas responds with a willingness to accompany Jesus despite the danger he foresees. His understanding is incomplete, yet he takes the next step. We can do the same by continuing to pray, showing kindness, and fulfilling today’s responsibilities while tomorrow remains uncertain. As a resurrection people, we live each day trusting Christ’s love and sharing his hope.

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, 

Help us trust your love when answers seem slow. Strengthen our faith, steady our hearts, and guide us to follow you while we wait. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Humble Greatness

 

The Humility of True Greatness 

Scripture Reading: Matthew 23:1–12

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, 

and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 

What does it mean to be truly great in God’s kingdom? We often associate greatness with achievements, recognition, influence, or positions of authority. Yet Jesus challenges this understanding when he confronts the religious leaders of his day. Although respected for their knowledge of Scripture and religious observances, they often failed to practice what they preached. They loved places of honor, public recognition, and prestigious titles, but neglected the humility and compassion that should characterize those who serve God. Jesus exposes the danger of allowing outward religious appearances to overshadow inward spiritual transformation.

Henri Nouwen, in In the Name of Jesus, reflects on the temptation to seek relevance, popularity, and power in Christian leadership. He reminds us that genuine spiritual leadership grows out of intimacy with Christ rather than the desire for recognition. Even our acts of service can become opportunities for admiration when our motives are shaped by pride. Jesus offers a radically different understanding of greatness: “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). He demonstrated this truth by washing his disciples’ feet, showing that genuine leadership is expressed through humility and self-giving love (John 13:12–15). Our gifts and responsibilities are entrusted to us not to elevate ourselves, but to serve others.

Timothy Keller, in The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness, reflects on Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 4:3–4, reminding us that our worth need not depend upon the opinions of others. Pride and insecurity may appear different, yet both keep our attention centered on ourselves. When our identity rests securely in God’s grace, we become free to serve without seeking applause or recognition. Jesus therefore invites us to examine not merely what we do, but why we do it. Are we serving to be noticed, or because we genuinely love God and our neighbors? True humanity is revealed not in how highly others regard us, but in how humbly and faithfully we serve them. In Christ’s kingdom, greatness is discovered not by lifting ourselves above others, but by lifting others through compassion, integrity, and love.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Forgive our pride and desire for recognition. Draw us closer to you, purify our motives, and give us humble hearts. Teach us to serve others faithfully.

In Jesus name, Amen.

The Great Reversal

Scripture Reading: Matthew 19:16–29

With man this is impossible, 

but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:26 

What are we holding so tightly that it prevents us from following Jesus wholeheartedly? A wealthy young man approached Jesus with an important question: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16). He had faithfully observed the commandments and lived a respectable moral life. Yet when Jesus invited him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow him, the young man walked away sorrowfully because he possessed great wealth. His possessions had become more than a source of security; they had become an obstacle to wholehearted discipleship.

Jesus was not suggesting that salvation could be earned through generosity or sacrifice. Rather, he exposed the young man’s misplaced confidence in his achievements and possessions. Timothy Keller, in Counterfeit Gods, explains that even good gifts—wealth, success, relationships, and achievements—can become substitutes for God when we depend upon them for our ultimate identity and security. The young man’s tragedy was not simply that he possessed great wealth, but that his wealth possessed his heart. Jesus reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). His invitation challenges us to examine whether our security rests in what we possess or in the God who provides everything we need.

Dallas Willard, in The Spirit of the Disciplines, challenges us to consider that “the cost of nondiscipleship is far greater.” We often focus on what following Jesus might require us to sacrifice, overlooking what we lose when we refuse his invitation. When the astonished disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus answered, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:25–26). Here lies the great reversal: eternal life is not earned through human achievement but received through God’s grace. True humanity is discovered not in accumulating more but in surrendering ourselves to Christ, our greatest treasure. Following Jesus may require releasing what we hold most tightly so that we may receive what truly matters.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Forgive us when possessions and achievements take your rightful place in our hearts. Free us from misplaced attachments, teach us to treasure Christ above all else, and give us grace to follow him wholeheartedly. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Freedom from Anxiety

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25–34

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, 

and all these things will be given to you as well. 

Matthew 6:33

How often do we find ourselves worrying about tomorrow—our health, finances, family, or life’s uncertainties? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses these familiar anxieties, reminding us that life is more than food, clothing, and material security. He points to the birds of the air, which neither sow nor reap, yet are fed by our heavenly Father, and to the flowers of the field, beautifully clothed without laboring or spinning (Matthew 6:26–29). If God cares so wonderfully for his creation, how much more can we trust his loving concern for us? Jesus is not encouraging irresponsibility but inviting us to replace anxious preoccupation with confident dependence upon God.

Our worries often reveal where we place our trust. We seek security through possessions, achievements, careful planning, and the illusion that we can control tomorrow. Richard Foster, in Freedom of Simplicity, reminds us that genuine freedom comes when our lives are centered on God’s kingdom rather than dominated by material concerns. C. S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, similarly reflects on the importance of beginning each day by surrendering our anxieties and personal ambitions to God. Instead of allowing our worries to dictate our priorities, we learn to listen for God’s guidance and place our lives under his direction. As Paul encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Jesus concludes with a practical instruction: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). Eugene Peterson, in The Message, beautifully paraphrases this invitation: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now.” Rather than allowing tomorrow’s uncertainties to rob us of today’s peace, we are called to live attentively and faithfully in the present. True humanity is discovered not in our ability to control life, but in our freedom to trust the God who lovingly sustains us. As we seek his kingdom first, we learn to exchange anxious striving for grateful dependence, discovering the peace that comes from resting in our heavenly Father’s care.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Forgive us when anxiety and the desire for control overshadow our trust in you. Teach us to seek your kingdom first, surrender our worries, and recognize your presence in each moment. Help us live faithfully today, trusting tomorrow to your loving care. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Building Bridges

Scripture Reading: Romans 14:1–21

Let us therefore make every effort to do 

what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Romans 14:19 

How do we respond when others hold convictions different from our own? Our natural tendency is often to defend our opinions, insist upon our rights, or judge those who disagree with us. Yet the apostle Paul reminds us that Christian maturity is measured not by winning arguments but by demonstrating love. Writing to believers in Rome who disagreed over dietary practices and religious observances, Paul urges them to accept one another without quarreling over disputable matters (Romans 14:1). Rather than passing judgment, he reminds them that each believer belongs to the Lord and is accountable to him.

Although Paul addresses disagreements among believers, his call to humility and consideration offers a valuable lesson for our relationships with those who believe differently. Eugene Peterson, in Earth and Altar, observes that some atheists reject belief in God not because they lack compassion, but because they struggle to reconcile a loving God with the suffering and injustice they witness. Their unbelief may arise from a profound concern for human dignity and goodness. Peterson’s insight challenges us to look beyond differences in belief and recognize the sincerity and humanity of others. While remaining faithful to our convictions, we can extend Paul’s principle of love by listening patiently, responding graciously, and seeking understanding rather than confrontation. As Paul reminds us elsewhere, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

Paul moves beyond the question of who is right to the deeper responsibility of caring for others. He cautions believers against exercising their freedom in ways that might harm another person’s conscience, reminding them that “knowledge puffs up while love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Christian freedom is not merely the liberty to do what we consider permissible but the willingness to place another person’s well-being above our preferences. God’s kingdom, Paul declares, is characterized by “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). True humanity is revealed when we value people above winning arguments and build bridges through humility, compassion, and love. Genuine spiritual freedom is the freedom to love rather than insist upon our own way.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, 

Forgive us when pride and self-interest prevent us from understanding others. Give us humility to listen, wisdom to respect differing convictions, and grace to pursue peace. May our words and actions build bridges of understanding and reflect Christ’s compassion and love. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.