Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Whether it is the sudden shock of an unexpected loss or the sadness of a slow decline, there is nothing harder in this life than the reality of death. The sorrow is palpable, and it continues as long as we live. Jesus knows how difficult it is for us to lose a friend or family member to death. John 11 is a lengthy chapter devoted to this emotional subject. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, sickens and dies. Jesus, being fully God, is aware of both his friend’s decrease and decease (verse 14). He also knows that He will raise Lazarus from the dead (verse 15). Still, though, when Jesus comes to the tomb of Lazarus, verse 35 records His heavyhearted response: “Jesus wept.” How hard is death? It is not part of God’s original creation but came upon us as a result of mankind’s sin. The separation that death brings about brings us to the Cross of Jesus, God the Son, where in Matthew 27:46 we hear Him say to God the Father, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Death is unnatural, no matter what evolutionists say. The open lamentation of Jesus assures us that He knows how hard death is, cares about our grief, and has defeated the full and final effects of death by dying for us and offering life eternal.