A heart like Jesus….
This week, unlike the movie “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, I have had to minister at four funerals and a wedding. The gospels tell us that Jesus was at at least one wedding and that He was also at two funerals of which we are aware – the funeral of Lazarus and the funeral where He raised the son of the widow of Nain.
In what is known as the shortest verse in the Bible (in English) it tells us that at Lazarus funeral Jesus wept…(John 11:35) It’s an unusual account as we wonder why He wept when all along He was going to raise Lazarus back to life from the grave?
Many Bible commentators have made their reasons as to why Jesus wept at this time. There is one other place that the Bible records Jesus weeping and that was as He was entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:41) just days before He was to be betrayed and crucified. This time He wept over the city because they should have known who He was and been ready for Him. But instead, they rejected Him and this decision would bring much sorrow to His people.
My question for you to ponder is, when was the last time your heart was moved with compassion – sorrow for another? Jesus tears were an outward sign of the loving heart of our amazing God who is always concerned for us – in our times of heartache, pain and sadness. As I drive around our cities of Perth and Fremantle, I see more and more homeless people hidden away in their ‘places of hopeful safety’, and my heart breaks. I see young kids out late at night, dressed well beyond their age and my heart is concerned for their safety and their innocence.
When Jesus walked this earth His heart was ‘filled with compassion’ for the people who were like lost sheep and without a Shepherd. Now, Jesus has left that ministry of compassion with you and I, His church. This week could you raise your eyes up from the things that concern you and take a broad sweeping look around you and see the world for whom Jesus suffered and died? May your heart be moved, may it be softened and allow a tear and some time for a stranger…in need, lonely, lost and without hope. And then raise a prayer up to heaven and ask God what would He have you do? What would Jesus do?