John 11:18-37 (NRSV)
Read John 11:18-37 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, Verse 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. Verse 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Verse 21Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. Verse 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." Verse 23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Verse 24Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Verse 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, Verse 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Verse 27She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." Verse 28When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." Verse 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. Verse 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. Verse 31The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Verse 32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
Verse 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. Verse 34He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Verse 35Jesus began to weep. Verse 36So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" Verse 37But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
Devotion
Jesus calls for Mary, and even she, the sensitive one, states bluntly: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” But Jesus is deeply moved by her weeping. He is disturbed by her suffering and begins to weep. Like Mary’s fellow mourners, we may not understand how he could have been so moved and still not have kept Lazarus from dying. In spite of our perplexity he is there -— deeply moved with and for Mary and for us.
Prayer
Jesus, you weep for us and are deeply disturbed by our suffering. We thank you that nothing -— not even death -— escapes your compassion and life-giving power.