September 2022
Nougat 27
If asked, what’s the most popular verse in the Bible, what would you say? And do you know the shortest (in the KJV at least)? Ironically, the shortest is not the most popular. In fact, for both verses many who know the verses are unfamiliar with the contexts. Today’s Holy Nougat
“When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept.” John 11:33-35 NLT
Before we get to the weeping Jesus; we note that there’s a subtext within the text. This is not the first deviation in this narrative, as the author previously made mention of the dangers involved in Jesus returning to Jerusalem before visiting Lazarus. We realize that the deviations offer insights that we might not have considered. Insights into Jesus as well as ourselves. – if we stop to take note.
If you were reading this for the first time, would the crowd’s wailing have impacted you? Why? And, should you be the reader who gets immersed in the story; where are you now? Are you part of the wailing crowd, or a disciple? And if a disciple, how are you feeling?
As a disciple, you’d be fully aware that the delay was not accidental. Now you’ve heard both sisters basically accuse Jesus of negligence. You know that He’s mentioned God’s glory – but the fact is, Lazarus has been dead and has begun to rot. How do you respond, to the sisters and the community? Are you also feeling that Jesus dropped the ball this time? And what about talks of raising the dead? How do you now respond to that?
This deviation is different from the first also for its fraught emotional impact. The wailing women, the seemingly empathetic crowd also wailing is juxtaposed with an angry Jesus. Is Jesus visibly angry? Our knowledge of an angry Jesus is rooted in a picture of overturned tables and a whip – and that event would have been in the future of this event. What does that anger look like? With whom is He angry? As His anger is mentioned, does it mean that it’s visible to the crowd, or only to those who know Jesus intimately?
Why is it even mentioned? For us to know that we must sterilize our thoughts and comments to God as good believers? Or to help us recognize that Jesus was fully human? Some time ago I reflected on this very nougat; and then, like now I have no certain answers. To the contrary, I offer yet another question – given that Jesus set this scenario in motion, should He not have expected those responses? Hence, why was Jesus angry?
He was also troubled, as in visibly upset. To the extent that He also wept. How do we respond to the weeping Jesus? Can we honestly relate to the very human nature of our absolutely divine Savior? And as persons called to imitate Christ in all we do, what does this mean for our own lifestyles? Are we allowed to get angry as believers? Can we reveal our agitation in public spaces? How so? And do we weep when others can see us? Hmmn. Much to ponder; much to chew
Selah
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May all we seek be found in Christ