How Jesus Loved Lazarus - John 11:36

The apostle John wrote how Martha the sister of Lazarus left Jesus and, “went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calls for you. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goes unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died. 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 you laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-six of his book John shared how the Jews said, “Behold, how he loved him” where we read:

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him.

The verse reads, “Then said the Jews, ...” John began with the words, “then said” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “the Jews” or “the people of the Jewish nation by birth, origin or religion” the following words. John shared how the Jewish people responded to Jesus “weeping” by saying the following words.

The verse continues, “... Behold how he loved him.” John added the word, “behold” or “lo, look, see and consider” “how he loved him” which means “in what way and manner Jesus approved of, was affectionate towards and fond of Lazarus”. John shared how the Jewish people who observed Jesus “weeping” concluded that Jesus was very “fond of” “Lazarus”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how the people who were watching Jesus responded to His “shedding tears” over this situation. They believed Jesus was especially “fond of” Lazarus, however, Jesus “loves” everyone, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them all. When a person surrenders their life to Jesus He forgives their sins and grants them abundant life on earth and in the life to come. Those who are wise will understand, “Jesus loves” everybody and wants them to yield to Him.

Next time John shares how Jesus, “groaning in himself came to the grave”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".