August 2
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JESUS DEEPLY MOVED
30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. 31 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. 32 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.” 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
– John 11:30-37
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In the story of Lazarus’ death, there were so many questions going through the minds of those who were mourning with Mary and Martha. They knew that Jesus was a close friend of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Jesus was a constant visitor in their house. The people couldn’t understand how Jesus, who have done so many miracles couldn’t have done it for those who are closest to Him. Why did Jesus allow this beloved friend to die? What was riveting in this part of the story is how Jesus was deeply moved in His spirit. It was interesting how he could feel what they were feeling: the grief over the death of their beloved Lazarus. Once again, we see the human side of Jesus. He was grieving over the death of His beloved friend, but He wasn’t overcome by earthly grief. He had godly sorrow because He also knew that it was an occasion for Him to bring God the glory. He was going to use the death of His beloved friend to proclaim God’s name.
How often to we feel compassion for others? Compassion alludes to kindness and sympathy, but there is something deeper, something even more profoundly powerful, in its meaning. The origin of the word helps us grasp the true breadth and significance of compassion. In Latin, ‘compati’ means “suffer with.” Compassion means someone else’s heartbreak becomes your heartbreak. Another’s suffering becomes your suffering. True compassion changes the way we live. It brings about the love that Jesus sampled to us when he was still on earth.
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REFLECTION
• Are you a compassionate person? How can one cultivate a compassionate heart?