WALK IN THE LIGHT

part three

Jesus Weeps

 “You number my wonderings, You put my tears into Your bottle. Are they not written in Your book?” Psalms 56:8

So Martha went back to Mary and she quietly whispered to her.

“The Teacher has come and is waiting for you outside the village.”

The ever practical Martha strove to give Mary some privacy with their friend, whom she knew could help her grieving sister. Privacy away from the well-meaning group of friends who had come from Jerusalem to help them in their grief for their brother who had died four days earlier. Martha also knew many of these Jews were critical of Jesus and might even assist in His arrest. So she whispered quietly.

However, Mary, who allowed her emotions to reign, who was impetuous and spontaneous, sprang to her feet and rushed out so quickly that everyone knew she was up to something, and they followed her like a cloud of smoke.

Mary, soft hearted-emotional Mary ran to Jesus. She didn’t sit and wait for Him to come to the house; she didn’t walk out to meet Him. Instead, with tears running down her face, she ran to Him.

Unlike Martha, she did not rail and stomp at Him, or demand an answer, no Mary threw herself at the feet of Jesus.

Oh, this woman, who is so unlike me, touches my heart. How I long to be more like Mary.

Months earlier, she poured expensive perfume all over Jesus’ head. I can just hear practical Martha, “Mary!” she blurts out when Mary breaks the vial, “What are you doing? That was for our burials!”

And the disciples say, “That is expensive stuff! What is wrong with that woman!”

But Mary, sweet-devoted-mushmellon Mary, poured out the costly oil that was possibly their life savings, without a thought.

To show honor, she anointed the head of Jesus. She let it run through his hair, and maybe messaged His weary shoulders with the expensive oil. Possibly because she knew He was tired, maybe He’d had a long stressful day, but most assuredly because she loved Him.

She loved her Teacher, her Lord so much, she poured out their nest egg on His precious head.

And Jesus said, “Why do you trouble this woman, she has done this thing for Me.” (from Math 26:6-13)

I love this story. Then at some point, when Jesus was visiting their house, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while her sister slaved away to feed the family and many visitors, for after all Jesus never traveled alone. While her older sister stomped, grumbled, and threw things around in the kitchen, sensitive-sentimental Mary sat with ardent eyes clinging to the Savior’s face and ears drinking in every word He had to say. Oh what a picture!

I can just hear Martha demand in a strident voice and with a stomp or two, “Lord, don’t you care that she sits while I work myself to death?”

Jesus said, “Leave her alone, for Mary has chosen the good thing.” (from Luke 10:38-42)

Oh to be more like Mary.

Then after the story I am telling now, when Jesus again visited Lazarus, Mary poured more of the precious oil, this time, on the feet of Jesus, which was a display of great devotion. Then she wiped His feet with her long hair. I am sure all who were present gasped loudly and Judas complained that the oil of nard was worth 300 denarii. Which was close to a years wages. Imagine taking a year of your wages and pouring it out on the feet of Jesus!

Yet Jesus said, “leave her alone, she has kept this for Me.” (from John 12:1-7)

Now, fervent-spontaneous Mary runs to her Jesus and falls at His feet. Oh if I could only be more like Mary!

She cries out her grief to Him, “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Same words as Martha, but instead of a tone of anger, Mary lies at her Lord’s feet, weeping and pouring out her heart. Jesus doesn’t ask Mary if she believes. He knows she believes.   Jesus doesn’t need a confession of faith from Mary, she has already shown it. Jesus does not need Mary to reaffirm her love for him, He has seen and felt her devotion.

She sat at His feet, washed his feet and fell at His feet in her love for her Savior. Oh to be more like Mary!

“When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews that were with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” John 11:33

Jesus was moved by their tears. He felt their pain. Jesus wept.

Not because He grieved for Lazarus, for He knew what would happen. He had compassion because of Mary’s tears. And even for the tears of those who did not as yet believe in Him.

He sees our tears, He keeps them in a bottle, He writes them in a book. He knows their cost, He feels the pain of our heart. Jesus is deeply moved by our sorrows.

I can imagine He gently reached down and lifted Mary. As tears rolled down His cheeks , He lovingly drew her to His side and wrapped His arms around her. I’m sure he firmly supported her with His arm as they walked towards the tomb.

Jesus comforts the broken hearted.

He says, “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.” Luke 4:18

He weeps, He cares, He comforts and He heals.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3

He sees our tears, He feels our sorrow. He heals our shattered hearts.

This I know.

When grief for my son was so great all I could do was fall to my knees, and the tears poured from my eyes, I felt His comfort. When I thought I could not go on because of despair, He bound my wounds. When the uphill climb was so very hard and I thought I would never laugh again, I experienced His healing. I feel His joy, I know His peace, I dwell in His love.

Come my friend, fall at His feet, cry out your grief to Him, pour out your heart. He will hold you in His arms.

from John 11

Jesus I give you my heart and my soul.

I know without You I would never be whole.

Savior, You opened all the right doors

I thank You. And I praise you

From Earths humble shores.

Take me I’m Yours.

And Jesus said, Come to the waters

Stand by my side.

I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied.

I felt every tear drop,

When in darkness you cried,

And I strove to remind you

That for those tears I died.

For Those Tears I died, by Marsha Stevens