Lazarus is Dead! Part 4
What to do About Criticism
The following Scriptural Nugget is
the forth in a mini-series based on John 11.
"Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, 'See how he
loved him!' But some of them said, 'Could not he who
opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?'"
(John 11:35-37)
Lazarus is dead, and Jesus didn't prevent it
from happening. He had His reasons, and they were excellent ones
-- He was about to perform His greatest miracle to date! But
despite what He knew would happen, and the wonderful outcome there
would be, when Jesus sees His dear friends mourning the death of
their brother, He weeps too. It must have been such a
wonderful display of His compassionate love and caring for
those of us who are suffering, for many of the Jews were moved to
say: "See how he loved him!" (vs. 36).
But others misunderstood Jesus completely.
When they saw Him cry, they mocked Him: "Could not he who opened
the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" (vs.
37). In other words, if He cared so much, why didn't he stop it
from happening!
Try to put yourself in Jesus' shoes. He is
in the midst of a very emotional situation. In sympathy and
compassion, He weeps with those who weep. But some have the
audacity to mock Him for His tears. What would you or I have done
in a similar situation? I'm afraid I know what the answer would
have been for me: I would have quit! In the face of criticism or
mockery, my natural tendency to put as much distance as possible
between myself and the mockers! But not Jesus. John 11:38,39:
"Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave
with a stone laid across the entrance. 'Take away the stone,' he
said."
In the face of criticism and mockery, Jesus
calmly continues His business. Why? Because He let nothing
stop Him from pursuing His Father's will!
Lord, You are my ultimate source of
strength and courage, yet how often I forget this in the face of
mockery and criticism! Help me remember to draw from your
strength and courage the next time I am criticized for doing work
in Your name, so that I, too, may not be swayed from doing Your
Will!
Please see the Sunday edition of The Illustrator for "Lazarus
is Dead! Part 5"
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart,
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,