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“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

Those two words, comprising the shortest verse in the English Bible, carry a big impact for followers of Jesus.

Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, died. After tarrying two days, he arrives to the place where Lazarus was buried–a place where he lay for four days. After hearing from Mary and Martha and seeing the sadness of those around him, he was overcome with emotion, and wept.

Why did he weep? He wept because this was not how He created the world. When God created the world, it was according to His perfect design. Due to the curse of sin, our world became broken. Look around–every aspect of our world struggles–educational, governmental, societal, medical, etc. Jesus sees the world as it is now. He sees where we as individuals are now. He sees where the church is, with all her imperfections and shortcomings.

He also sees where the church and the world are heading in their final culmination. It’s here that Jesus reminded Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

This question (“Do you believe this?”) still resonates. Though addressed to Martha, the Spirit addresses this question to us even now. Jesus weeps over death, but He provides the solution to this devastating situation this world finds itself.

Since we should take Jesus at his Word, our only hope from our brokenness and this broken world in trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Do you believe this?