What makes Jesus cry? Jesus walks many hours uphill from Jericho, and nobody says a kind word to him when he arrives. He is not treated as a friend of the family but shamed as a late-comer. Jesus gently corrects Martha, but he does not or cannot even speak to Mary, who is wailing at his feet. The crowd is also wailing, although it is now four days after Lazarus has died, which makes the wailing suspect. Is it grief or drama? Some in the crowd are not Lazarus' friends and are delighted that Lazarus is dead. It makes Jesus look bad. Some in the group are celebrating Jesus' failure to help his friend. Martha is not wailing or even crying. The wailing of those on day four is not mere sadness; it is a shaming device designed to punish Jesus for failing to promptly help his friend Lazarus. Jesus is weeks away from his own death, and not even his closest friends believe in him. Jesus is angry and hurt. He cries because he was joyfully anticipating the celebration surrounding the resurrection of his friend Lazarus. Jesus is disappointed and moved to tears when Mary, who was previously at his feet listening, is now at his feet shaming him publicly.

What is your response when your prayers are not answered in a timely fashion? From John 11

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels