Rev. George Miller
Feb 22, 2026
John 11:1-3; 17-35
In a little bit we will hear a word from
Andrew as he shares about the Ukraine people and community he cares so much
about.
Andrew cares so much that it moved him
months ago to do a presentation. Because
of YOUR feedback, he’s been inspired to create a fundraising opportunity that
we can all engage in.
Community. What a special and important word. A word and concept that moves Jesus to tears.
Today we have a familiar tale of death and
restored life. Lazarus, a beloved friend
of Jesus dies, and it does not just affect Jesus, or the Martha and Mary sisters,
it affects all those around and knew him.
It is four days after Lazarus died. Though Jesus is aware that he could be
captured and killed at any moment, he travels from the Jordan (where he was
baptized), to Bethany, 3 miles from where he will be crucified.
Martha greets him with grief “Lord, if you
had been here…”
Mary immediately gets up and quickly goes
to him, kneels, and weeps. Jesus looks
around and sees those around her are weeping.
These are not just silent tears or polite boohoos;
these are full drops of sadness complete with moaning and groaning.
These tears of Mary and the community are expressions
of external sorrow with wailing, chants, calling of the Lost’s name, rocking of
bodies, beating of chests. Emotional,
embodied, real.
Think of how much we’ve discussed about
water in the Gospel of Luke. The Wedding. The Well.
The pool. The spit.
Now we add the tears; waters from the eyes
that embody hurt.
What does Jesus do? What does Emmanuel, “God With Us,” the Lord
Incarnate do when surrounded by Mary and all the people sobbing and weeping?
He weeps too. Jesus also weeps.
Mary and her community weep in their brokenness,
and in response to their brokenness, Jesus weeps.
The tears of Jesus are a sign of compassion,
empathy, and mourning with us.
Jesus, who we met as a babe in the manger,
embodies who God is, and what we witness right here is the holy
water of heavenly tears that let us know that our God is a God who cares, and
feels, and is moved by human emotion.
How powerful this is. That Jesus shows to us a God who is not
distant or aloof, uncaring, or unmoved.
So today, as we acknowledge the 4 years of
war between the Ukraine and Russia, as we hear about those in Kieve who are
dealing with harsh cold, we hear of children separated from families, let us
imagine the tears of Jesus.
Let us know that without a doubt the Lord
is crying for the loss of life and property, family and community that takes
place anywhere there is war.
All we like sheep may sit in our
despair and the despair of others, but may be find that the tears of our
Incarnate God give us comfort among the mountains of Zion, the rivers of Jordan,
and any place where community grieves together.
As we prepare to listen to Andrew, may we
know that the Lord is listening too.
Amen.
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