Where Have You Laid Him

John 11:33-36


33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”      

Do we believe as the mourners there did that Jesus grieved over the death of His friend? Or do we understand that Jesus not only knew where Lazarus was buried but also knew he would live again before he even began the journey to his town?



Jesus asks where they had laid him not because He did not know but because He was giving us the picture of true friendship, allowing for this time to remain fully man in their eyes. If he had just went straight to the tomb then the people would have been expecting a miracle from the Son of God and not instead seeing Christ’s love and compassion for one man.


"Jesus wept" we know Jesus did not weep over the death of a friend, and I say it is not over the lack of faith of those who mourn as I have heard some say. But I believe Jesus wept not for, but with the friends and family of mourners. I believe He shared in their time of grief to comfort and let them know it is ok to grieve and mourn.


We must learn this as well, to be joyful for others and with others in their time of joy and to mourn with others in their time of sorrow and for others. Jesus wept not for the loss of His friend but because the others were filled with sorrow and grief and He had compassion for them.


Jesus went there with the purpose of knowing what He would find and what He would do. And He allowed time to minister to the mourners and to the family he encountered there but He came for a purpose, to bring life to something that was dead. He asks the family, where have you laid him, and they reply by saying come and see.


His purpose had a place and it was not in the vale of tears but instead His purposes place is where dead things lie!


There are so many lessons in this one very short verse, we must follow Christ’s example and grieve for those who grieve, to mourn with the mourners, to allow ourselves to become less than who we are to comfort and minister, to esteem others greater than ourselves.... But we must also learn the lesson of purpose. You must travel with purpose and your purpose must have a place. Like Jesus, That place is where dead things lie. Jesus wants to resurrect the dead things in people's lives, dead marriages, dead families, dead hopes, and dead dreams. Go to these places, allow yourself to mourn with them, grieve because they grieve but then ask as Jesus did, Take me to the thing that is dead.....


35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

Where Are All The Superheroes

Where Are All The Superheroes? USA Today begins their story with this line, “He stopped to help and died because others did not do the same.” America loves its superheroes, and we fantasize and fashion them with every kind of power that the human imagination can conjure up. Superman has powers that can be matched by no other force on Earth. His only weakness is a rock from another planet. Aquaman lives in the sea and communicates with all of its inhabitants. The Flash is as fast as lightning and Spiderman climbs walls and can sense danger. Then there are the superheroes that have no special powers, but are driven with a passion for justice and resources and gadgets that do not exist is reality. Men like Batman and the American superhero of today, IRON MAN. Something was done for all humanity 2000 years ago that no comic strip hero could have accomplished even if he possessed every power given to these imaginary super humans. Only one Man possessed this kind of power and was positioned to wield it, and with a ferocious and violent attack He conquered sin and redeemed every man woman and child who would believe on Him. Forever! He is the True Superhero, and His name is Jesus Christ! He destroys the works of darkness with the power of LOVE and He demonstrated its undeniable and dynamic force on the Cross at Calvary. His creed is this, found in John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (NIV). Hugo Tale-Yax, an out of work homeless man, was found dead on a sidewalk in Queens NY from multiple stab wounds received while trying to save a perfect stranger from an attack. It appears his creed was the same as our Lord’s. But for the 24 other people who just passed him by and left him lying there, they chose indifference instead of love as their manifesto. (click here to view entire story) This story grieved my heart in such a way I was inspired to share my thoughts with you. This simple man sparked a passion in me that can only be attributed to the indwelling of God’s Spirit and the desire to rise and live up to the name given by the One who gave His life on a cross. We are Christians! And it is time we infiltrate every area of our lives and bring to our work-place, schools, neighborhoods and all the world the flavor of Love! Jesus preached influence among those we are surrounded by. He says we are to be the salt of the earth and are to flavor the atmosphere with godliness or we are to be thrown out like a useless bag of trash. The Message Bible says it like this, Jesus’ words: Matthew 5:13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Let me ask you this: How much influence do you really have? In Washington DC there is a group who call themselves The Capital City Super Squad. They are real life superheroes or RLSs. And in their principles is found this set of philosophical ideals, or their Superhero Paradigm as one member calls it. For every RLS there are core principles they must possess. 1. A desire to help others; 2. A sense of justice; 3. A commitment to the rules of social order; And 4. The resolve to actively pursue these ideals. And though these ideals are honorable and serve a higher purpose they did not originate with these modern day do-gooders, but are instead only half of the commandment given by Christ in Luke 10:25-37. What we find in Jesus’ example is something greater than just a philosophy that would have us risk ourselves for the victims of injustice. In the parable of the Good Samaritan he takes a man who has shown outright hatred towards the Samaritan and who has acted wickedly to his people all of his life and makes him the victim. The Samaritan had every reason to hate this man and to leave him lying there just as those New Yorkers did to Mr. Hugo Tale, but because of his obedience to God and his love to honor his God he chose instead to show compassion and mercy and to forgive every act of evil shown to him and demonstrate the Love of Christ to a fellow human being. It is this level of love we are to demonstrate in the giving of ourselves to others. Jesus says, “Now go and do likewise.” Authentic faith demands that we are able to look past the individual in need and see only the need. Where are all the Superheroes of today? Demonstrate Christ and people will see we are truly surrounded by them. They are working in your building or sitting in your class. They are driving in the car next to you as you are stuck in traffic or they may be living in your own home. What makes them Superheroes is the fact that in spite of their vulnerabilities and the danger of getting hurt by others or maybe even killed, they continue to give and to risk all the while showing mercy and love. We are Christians, and with that name come many blessings and the promise that God will never leave us or forsake us. But also with that name we have a great responsibility; give sacrificially for the sake of others even though it may cost you everything and God be glorified! So let me leave you with this question: Do you feel like a Superhero?