I was asked recently to summarize the entire Bible using only one verse or chapter. I thought on that for a while. One verse or chapter to summarize the entire Bible? What a daunting and absolutely intriguing question for a theology nerd.
I first thought of John 3:16. A verse we all know and love. Then I thought of Romans 8, one of my favorite chapters. It was hard to decide. As I thought on this, I wanted a verse that would convey the heart of God. One that would show his personality, power, and purpose. Then I recalled one of my favorite Jesus moments. If I had to narrow the entire Bible to one verse, I would choose John 11:35. Jesus wept.
John 11 gives us the account of the family of Lazarus; close friends of Jesus. One day, while Jesus was away teaching, Lazarus grew ill and his sisters, Mary and Martha sent for the Lord. Word of Lazarus’ health reached Jesus but instead of rushing to their home in Bethany, he waited and Lazarus died.
Jesus knew, even despite their present suffering, that everything would go well for this family. He would eventually return and raise his friend from the dead but John 11:35 shows us how much Jesus cares for his people. He wept. He saw their grief. He heard their cries. He knew he would heal them. He knew his power was greater than their grief. He knew he had laid the foundations of the world and would one day redeem it from it’s sinful state. But still, he wept.
If I had to summarize the entire Bible into one verse, I would point you to the Creator and Savior of the world crying even though he knew everything about each person there. Every time they were apathetic. Every time they didn’t love their neighbor. Every time they lied. Every time they cheated. Every time they uttered a sinful word or entertained a sinful thought. He still cried with and for them. I don’t know about you but I struggle with judging people purely on my assumptions. Jesus knew the truth about every person there and still he wept for their brokenness.
The heart of God displayed beside the tomb of Lazarus is the same heart who spoke the world into existence and enacted a plan to save us from ourselves. It is the same heart who loves you and beckons you home. Jesus wasn’t so repulsed by their wickedness that he cut all ties with them. He wasn’t so aggravated at their lack of understanding that he quit talking to or loving them. He didn’t turn away from their suffering or guilt them with what they knew of him already and how they should be acting. He knew everything about each of them and still, he wept.
Church, we hear a lot about who God is and what God does but all too often we forget how God loves. Instead of condemning others. Instead of pointing our fingers, rolling our eyes, shaking our heads, and lambasting others on social media we need to be more like Jesus. We need to see people for who they are, be moved by their grief, and love them anyway.