The Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A), March 9, 2008
BCP: Ezek. 37:1-3 (4-10), 11-14; Psalm 130; Rom. 6:16-23; John 11: (1-16) 17-44
RCL: Ezek. 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Rom. 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
The heart sometimes speaks more through tears than through words. At this dramatic scene at the grave of Lazarus, Jesus wept. In those tears we find the heart of the Savior opened up and revealing his deepest feelings. While we don’t have verbal explanations behind them, we can speculate as to what moved his feelings so strongly.
Certainly the death, the mourning, and the wailing of Mary and Martha touched him and brought to the surface his own sorrow and grief over the death of his friend, Lazarus. Our
Savior was fully incarnate, like us in every way, except in sin. His tears are as normal and as essential to his grief as ours are to us.
From the details of the story, we might guess about other motives lying behind his tears. Some of those who were there, we learn, went to the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin to plot his death. Probably he was in sorrow over the unbelief of these Jews. Knowing the plot would bring the awareness of his own imminent death. His death would be the ultimate payment for the wages of all sin. The tears could have held this awful anticipation.
John also tells us that some there doubted him since he could have prevented Lazarus’s death. We read that he was “deeply moved and troubled.” These words convey anger and agitation and were carefully chosen by John. He was standing before the stench of human death, and he was hearing outcries of unbelief. His tears could be responding to the blindness of the people, the faithlessness of his people.
In the fullness of these emotions, perhaps there was also joy. Lazarus, his friend dead for four days, would be raised to life. The faith of Mary that there would be a resurrection would be realized when Lazarus came forth. The certainty of his own resurrection would be seen in Lazarus’. Yes, also joy.
For us these tears hold the sweetness of our Savior’s compassion. They speak of his tenderness at the deepest level of our sorrow. They tell us that the weight of guilt at our sin and all its dreaded wages have been borne by him on the cross. They sustain us in coming from the heart of the Savior who loves us, died for us, and now lives to give us hope and comfort.
Look It Up
After a study of tears and weeping, what do you find as a common thread?
Think About It
From that study, what circumstances surrounding us should bring us to
tears?
Next Sunday
Palm Sunday, March 16, 2008
BCP: Isaiah 45:21-25 or Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 22:1-21 or 22:1-11; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. (26:36-75) 27:1-54 (55-66)
RCL: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Matt. 26:14–27:66 or Matt. 27:11-54
