02/17/2021 SHORT AND SIGNIFICANT
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. However, JESUS does not go to see Lazarus until two days later. When JESUS arrives in Bethany where Lazarus and his two sisters live, JESUS first 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.
In other words, JESUS had a physical body with tear ducts, etc. - That JESUS understood how death affects us all.
- That JESUS understood that HE too would die.
- That JESUS understood the grip that death had on mankind.
- 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. JESUS loves families.
- 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.
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 down from side to side, keeping your shoulders down
- slowly making a “V” with your head,
- slowly looking up at the ceiling and down at the floor, keeping your shoulders down
- slowing making circles with your head clockwise and counter-clockwise.