The Shortest Verse in the Bible

John 11:35  "Jesus Wept"  This is the shortest verse in the Bible and every time I read John chapter 11 the story of Jesus raising Lazarus, I tear up.  Jesus not only had his disciples, he had friends He loved.  This family Lazarus, Mary and Martha play prominent roles in the gospels.  Mary 11:2 "anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair".  Martha, Luke 10:40   But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" And finally Lazarus John 11:3 "Lord, he whom you love is ill."  We know the gospel says Jesus waited until Lazarus died "so that the Son of God may be glorified."

Why did Jesus cry?  He knew he was going to raise Lazarus.  I love verse 33.  "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved and in his spirit and greatly troubled."  Jesus was human, he was God, but he felt love and felt sadness.  Death is the consequence of a sin stained world.  Just like a loving parent, we hurt when we see the children we love hurt.  We wish we could keep them safe and from stupid mistakes and bad consequences but we can't.  The pain we feel, He understands.  This chapter is our hope.  Here is our command when we are in sorrow.  Verse 40, Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"   Believing when you are in sorrow is difficult, sometimes if feels impossible.  It hurts so bad, we have prayed and prayed and prayed and yet this has happened.  Faith is not a feeling, it is a choice.  Here is my prayer when I am buffeted with sorrow. Hear what another troubled parent said in Mark 9:24, Lord,“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”