Scripture: John 11:1-44
Journal: Where do you see pain within or around you? How do you think God feels about it? How does he want you to feel about it? What do you think he wants you to do about
it?
Reflection:
It is hard to read John 11 and not get the
impression—especially when you study the words carefully—that Jesus was
bothered. Oh sure, he was
heartbroken. He was moved to tears by
all of the pain and suffering he witnessed around him, especially the sorrow of
his dear friends, Mary and Martha. I
believe it was the tears of these beloved sisters than moved him to tears
himself.
But there is something more
going on here. Jesus was bothered. You can especially see it in John’s use of
the words “deeply moved” in verses 33 and 38.
On the surface they look like nothing but sadness and sorrow, but underneath
they communicate much more. The word used
here in the Greek is embrimaomai, which literally means “to snort in
indignation.” Jesus was indignant. He was not pleased. He was frustrated. Or, at the very least, he was really, really bothered. He was bothered to see his friends in great
pain. And he was bothered again when the
some of the onlookers said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man
also have kept this man from dying?”
I guess the real question
is: What, exactly, was Jesus bothered by?
Was he bothered by the lack of faith being exhibited around him? Was he bothered by the way it caused those
around him to question the goodness of his heart? Or was he bothered by the fact that it didn’t
have to be this way? This (a world of
death and suffering) was never his intention in the first place. And, who knows, maybe it was all of the
above. All we do know is that Jesus was
bothered. And you know what? I’m glad.
Something deep within me wants a God who is bothered by death and
suffering and sorrow and pain. I think
that being bothered is a necessary component of compassion.
You see, compassion is not
just pity, or even empathy. Compassion
is to be lovingly bothered. It is to
love someone enough to be deeply affected by their hurt and pain, but also to
be bothered enough to do something about it.
To enter in somehow. Compassion
is love in action. And it is the “bothered”
part that keeps us from merely being heartbroken for someone, and moves us to action. Compassion, as in this case for Jesus, hates the
effects of the fall, and moves in the direction of trying to reverse them (with
God’s help) whenever possible. It is not
merely being grieved about the world, but also being willing to do something
about it. Jesus was filled with
compassion, and wants us to be as well.
What are you bothered about these days?
How has it moved you to loving action?
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me when I am not bothered
by what I see around me and within me. Thank
you that you were bothered; bothered enough to get involved in offering people the
healing and the wholeness they desperately needed. Help me to do the same. Amen.
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