Jesus wept

Written by Peggy Potter
John 11:35 NIV
"Jesus wept."

   The recent passing of my dear friend Bob Racicot gave me pause for reflection. I was actually happy for him because I knew he had been freed from all his long-term suffering & disability. I also know where he went : home to be with Jesus !

    Jesus knew this too, when His friend Lazarus passed away. He lovingly reminded Martha & Mary, Lazarus' sisters, that their brother would rise again & told them "I AM the resurrection & the Life...", but in His Love & compassion, He still knew their pain
& heartbreak, so He wept with them. And He raised their brother !

    Bob was a very devout man of God who no doubt went on to his reward. His greatest joy & his heart was singing & strumming praise & worship songs to Jesus ! One of his greatest sorrows at the end of his earthly life was that neuropathy robbed him of his ability to play his guitar. I am certain that Heaven's praise & worship choir & orchestra have been increased by one more enthusiastic member!
  
      This , however does not lessen the the sorrow & grief felt by his family & friends who were devastated by the loss of him . This made me cry as I am certain Jesus also bore their grief & pain.
 
       The beautiful thing in all this is how God -never late , but always on time- brought his whole family back together, something we at his years-long Bible study had long prayed for.
 
       We who know Jesus as our Lord, Savior, & King as did Bob, know we have a blessed future; an eternity with & glorious resurrection in Him. We should always remember to pray for our unsaved loved ones & the lost in this world, that they will come to know the same blessed assurance we have in Him. After all "He would that none should perish, but all come to everlasting life in Him "
2 Peter 3:9. This is Jesus'Heart & the very reason He came into this world.In Him there is no need to be eternally separated from Him & those we love ! Our grief will pass away forever ! Not only will we be spending eternity in the presence of God-most wonderful in & of itself-, but we will NEVER have to say "Goodbye" to our loved ones again ! "And He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes & death shall be no more ! " 


Revelation 21:4 NIV
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.