Our church has been touched by death twice this week! Needless to say, it has been a difficult time battling the pain and emptiness that is injected into our lives when loved ones pass into eternity.  Our humanity tends toward devastation by death and everything that surrounds it's presence. It oft times leaves us reeling and back on our heels if we allow it to. One may ask, "Is there a grieving period? Is it biblical to grieve?" I believe the answer to both of these questions is an emphatic "YES!" I believe our Lord Jesus grieved during the loss of His friend Lazarus even though he knew He would resurrect Lazarus.

John 11:11-14, 23  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead...Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

John 11:35  Jesus wept.

I believe Jesus tears were for the dead but mostly for the living. Jesus loved Lazarus (John 11:36  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!) and was human therefore touched with emotion. He felt pain, but most importantly, He felt the pain of others.

John 11:33-35  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,  And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.

Hebrews 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

However, we must bear in mind, Jesus was not here to be connected to humanity alone, rather to do the will of His Father. He certainly felt for those who were hurting but His focus was primarily in regard to their hurting souls which lacked belief and faith. He was hurting more for their spiritual deficiency than for their mental and physical infirmity.

John 11:15  And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

I believe that these humans demonstrated their lack of faith in Jesus by not recognizing His power and ability to raise Lazarus from the grave imminently. They were focused on the "...resurrection at the last day." Jesus drove home the point that He was all in all. He was capable of not only raising the physical body but also making alive the soul in order that it would never die.

John 11:24-26  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

We must understand in our grief that although our Savior is not here physically and conducting His ministry of healing and raising the dead, He is still miraculously attempting to sooth our grief through His Holy Spirit. He has also given us the hope of resurrection unto eternal life.