- Remember when he sat on that well in Samaria, weary with the journey and thirsty. In this he shows us he was still subject to tiredness and to thirst as He was a man! He could say to the woman, "give me to drink" but then later demonstrate his absolute deity by displaying his omniscience - he knew everything about her! She would say "come see a man who told me all things that ever I did, is not this the Christ?" (John 4:4-29)
- Recall when he was crossing the Sea of Galilee and the storm raged yet He was asleep in the hinder part of the boat? Incidentally I love the detail that the Word of God adds, that it was upon a pillow, or cushion! Just as you and I would appreciate a comfortable spot to get some rest, so it was with our blessed Lord. He found a cushion and slept while He had the opportunity, such humanity! But how wonderful it is to recognise that the one who slept was also the one with mastery over the very elements that rocked that boat from side to side! The Lord awoke and with just a few words from his lips quelled the storm - "Peace be still"(Mark 4:35-41) The disciples would remark "what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" They saw something of his deity now!
- Finally I think of that sad scene in John chapter 11 where we see that "he whom thou lovest is sick"... and the death of Lazarus. The Lord Jesus arrives at the graveside and we read those lovely words "Jesus wept". What could be more human than weeping at the graveside of a loved one? I think this is most precious indeed. I realise that these tears could well be attributed to the Lord witnessing first hand the effects of sin upon the life of one whom he loved so dearly, I believe that there is a sense in which this is true as well. But I also think that these tears were simply because he was moved and saddened that a dear friend had died! Verse 38 says he was "deeply moved" in other translations which I think would lend weight to this. I don't think this is a wrong way to look at these tears, there is nothing wrong sometimes with the simplest interpretation! In this regard it is interesting to note the reaction of the Jews who were eyewitnesses to those tears - They would say "Behold how he loved him!" Even they could recognise in their uncaring and hard-hearted natures, that Jesus was moved to tears that one He loved dearly had passed into death, even though He had the power of life and death. The word used for weep is interesting as it carries with it the idea of weeping silently or quietly and comes from the word "tear-drop". I picture a tear making it's way down the lovely face of the Saviour, as he stands by that graveside. How dignified, how human! It reminds me of those verse Hebrews 4:15 "we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin". He was saddened and so he wept! Just as he was tired so he slept, and he was thirsty so he drank. But we recall that he would cry with a loud voice "Lazarus come forth!" and the dead one was raised at the Lord's command! He could say "I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."
Think about these words - Such encouragement for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ! Any who die shall live forever in His presence, absent from the body and present with the Lord. And we who live have the prospect of being caught up together with the Lord, and so we shall live forever with Him! What a blessed prospect we have, and what a Saviour we have - let us worship Him together.
Yours in Christ, Mark
