John 11:35 JESUS wept. [King James Translation]
Summary
This scripture is famous for being the shortest verse in the King James Bible and many other translations*. This scripture occurs in the narrative that describes the death and later resurrection of Lazarus. The events are as follows: JESUS receives a message from Mary and Martha that their brother, Lazarus, is sick. JESUS loved this family but HE does not go to see Lazarus until two days later. When JESUS arrives in Bethany where Lazarus and his two sisters live, Jesus encounters Martha and later meets a weeping Mary, who falls to HIS feet and says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus sees her weeping, and the other people who came to console Mary also weeping, the Bible says, JESUS “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” The Bible says, JESUS asked where they had laid Lazarus and was told to “come and see.” Then, JESUS wept.
This short verse illustrates a great number of things and more, including:
- That JESUS was human. HE could feel human emotional pain and wept just as we do.
HE had the same kind of body that we have, with tear ducts, etc. - That JESUS wept for HIS friend’s unbelief and weeps for our unbelief.
- That JESUS understood how death affects us all.
- That JESUS understood that HE too would die.
- That JESUS understood the grip that death had over mankind.
- That JESUS understood that Lazarus was really dead.
- That where HE was being led (i.e. the public burial place), there were a lot of others waiting for release from the grave like Lazarus, but only Lazarus would arise that day.
- That we serve a GOD who weeps for us in our time of need.
- That JESUS loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus, just as HE loves us.
- That GOD is not distant. HE understands us like none other.
- That GOD has compassion for us.
- That weeping may precede resurrection, but resurrection is sure to come.
This scripture is short but significant.
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* Although “JESUS wept” is the shortest verse in many Christian translation bibles, it is not the shortest verse in the original lan-guages. In the NIV, Job 3:2 is the shortest biblical verse. Whereas the KJV reads "And Job spake, and said," the NIV simply has "He said". The shortest verse in the Greek New Testament is Luke 20:30 ("και ο δευτερος", "And the second") with twelve letters, according to the Westcott and Hort text. See, www.wikipedia.com.
Short Exercises:
There are a number of exercises that can be performed in a short amount of time.
Neck and Shoulder Flexibility Exercises
You can perform neck exercises by turning your head slowly from right to left, slowly tilting your head from side to side, slowly making a “V” with your head, slowly looking up at the ceiling and down at the floor.
You can also perform a few shoulder exercises in a short time. For example, shoulder shrugs involve slowly bringing your shoulders as close to your ears as possible and then slowly lowering your shoulders as far from your ears as possible. Another short exercise is to slowly lift your hands about 45 degrees from your body with your thumb pointed down (as if you just poured a glass of water on the floor) and then slowly lower your hands (again thumbs down) back to your sides.
If you have balance problems these exercises should be performed in a chair. If you work, these exercises can be performed in less than 3 minutes at your desk.
Foot and Ankle Strengthening Exercises:
The human foot and ankle have about 26 bones. About one-third of the bones in the human body are in the feet. There are about 33 joints, about 100 tendons, muscles and ligaments. The feet carry a lot of weight and often could use a good workout. For example consider the following:
- Toe Curls
Place a towel on the ground under your right foot. Stretch your toes out and pull them back in to grip the material with your toes. Lift the cloth one to two inches off the ground and hold for five seconds. Lower it to the ground. Repeat five times. Then repeat on the left side.
Relax your muscles between each grip.
Work up to holding the grip for 10 seconds at a time.
Toe curls focus primarily on strengthening the toe flexors. - Write the Alphabet
Sit on the couch, relaxed against the back. Extend one of your legs and raise one foot several inches off the ground. Trace the alphabet in the air using your big toe as a “pencil.” Then switch legs and do the same with the opposite big toe. This exercise helps to strengthen the extensor and flexor muscles in the foot. This exercise also helps strengthen the ankles and plantar fasciitis (i.e., the flat band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes). - Ankle Stretching and Strengthening
Sit with your legs stretched straight out in front of you. Without moving legs, point your feet backward towards your body as far as they will comfortably go. Hold for 10 seconds. Then, point your toes down away from your body. Hold for 10 more seconds. Next, point toes towards the opposite foot and hold for 10 seconds. Then, point your toes away from the opposite foot and hold for 10 more seconds. Lastly, move the ankles 10 times clockwise and 10 times counterclockwise. - Calf Raises
Stand straight in front of a wall, counter, or other stable object. Place your hands gently on the wall or on a stable countertop in front of you. Raise yourself onto your toes in a calf raise exercise. From this raised-toe position, lower your feet to the ground again while keeping yourself balanced with your hands against the wall or counter. Repeat 10 times, making sure to lower yourself slowly to the ground.
For an extra challenge, raise one knee in the air (waist high in front) 10 times slowly (with the other hand again the wall), then turn and repeat the knee raises on the other side, with the opposite hand on the wall. - Perform a Ball Roll
Sit on a chair and place a tennis or golf ball under the ball of your right foot (a tennis ball is probably the most comfortable for your foot). Roll the ball with your feet, moving the ball along the bottom of your foot from ball to heel. Continue the movement for two minutes. You should feel the massage throughout your foot.
To increase your hand grip, squeeze a small rubber ball (or a tennis ball) slowly, first ten times on the right and then ten times on the left. Or, slowly squeeze an orange, first on the right and then the left. If you have children or for more family fun, see who can squeeze the most juice out of an orange into a glass, using either one hand or two.
If you have an injury or a medical condition that affects your balance, consult your personal physician for exercises that fit your needs and conditions or ask your physician if the above exercises are right for you.
Short But Significant Acts
It is often the short, but significant things that count. A short cheerful hello after a long day’s work; a short phone call to a loved one, friend or relative; a simple e-mail or note, just to say hello; a friendly smile or welcoming a visitor at your place of worship; or, a simple thank you for a meal, are significant.
The short spiritual things are also significant. The silent prayer for a homeless person or a downcast person you see on the street. The prayers you send out when you hear about disasters like school shootings, floods, fires, wars, more African school girls being abducted in Nigeria or other turmoil in the world, are significant. Telling a child, a teenager or some young adult what a great job they are doing, or how much you appreciate their church service, or their desire to do good, is significant.
Every time we read the Bible, study GOD’s WORD, is a short and significant time we spend with HIM. Every prayer is a “short and significant” time of worship.
Every minute you devote to your physical and spiritual health is significant.
Thank you for sharing these Wednesdays with me, and BE BLESSED.
