“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope” (NIV – emphasis mine).” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Jesus wept. – John 11:35


John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the Bible, but the story it tells is one of the greatest stories about Jesus.

Three times in John 11, Jesus was grieved. Some say He was thinking about His upcoming crucifixion, but I doubt He was that selfish.

The Jews noticed his weeping, and they siad, “Look how much He loved him.” I think Jesus was weeping because He was genuinely grieving the loss of a loved one. It’s natural. It hurts to grieve and to see those around you grieve. But it’s necessary.

Tomorrow I go to New Hampshire both to grieve the loss of my Meme (grandma in French) and to help my family understand that there is hope.

Just a few paragraphs before Jesus weeps in John, He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Then He asks the question, “Do you believe this?”

As I grieve, I am reminded that I DO believe that. Jesus IS the resurrection and the life. There IS life after death. There is HOPE.

The following song by Jars of Clay talks about going home when we die. I know that Meme is home.