Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

When Jesus weeps...

7/1/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."
~ Psalm 143:8, 10
​

Recently a friend of mine and I were talking about the death of Lazarus and how Jesus wept at the tomb prior to raising Lazarus from the dead.  For decades I have listened to, and participated in, discussions of why it was that Jesus was crying.  I remember listening to the preacher, Fred Craddick, talk about this very subject during a sermon.  He shared that Jesus weeps in many ways.  

I remember him describing an AIDS ward at a hospital, and the words, "Jesus wept," being embroidered into the pillow cases of those who were dying.  He gave the example of an addict, laying in an alley, sticking a dirty needle into his arm, just so that he might feel something other than despair, and "Jesus weeps."  He spoke of the aged woman in a care home, shut away from the world and her family, in the darkness, "Jesus weeps."

And then my friend shared this thought. "Suppose Jesus knows that he is calling Lazarus away from the paradise of heaven, where there is no more pain.  No more struggles.  No more death.  Perhaps THAT is why Jesus is weeping?"

It suddenly had a greater impact in my understanding of the text.  "Of course!" I said.

Jesus is moved by his knowledge of heaven, and that of our earthly existence.  In the Divine womb of God we are created for an eternal existence through Jesus.  Through Jesus's weeping, we are reminded that God is not distant. 

I always remind others that when John declared that the "Kingdom of God is at hand," he wasn't talking about a time to come.  It  is present, all around us.  Often we are so busy that we do not recognize it's presence.  Jesus weeps, and we long for "something."

Jesus was present in that moment, allowing for his pain to be seen, and for his love to be known.  He was vulnerable, and willing to bring Lazarus back, just to provide an everlasting lesson of how our pain can also move God to exist with us.

I am grateful for the loving grace of God that enters into our pain, who weeps with us, laughs with us, and wants to experience every moment with us.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams lives in the Houston metro area and is a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, Texas, and is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor.

    He serves as the Stated Supply to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Galveston, Texas.

    His new book, "Remember Me When..." is available through Chalice Press.

    Archives

    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact