John 11:35-36.

Jeshua laughed as Peter, the boy who lived in a house nearby, dramatically swung his broom around like a sword. This wasn’t the first time they both put off doing their chores to pretend to duel or just to fool around. His mother Mary, however, did not find it so amusing.

“Boys, don’t you break those brooms! I’ll have you sweeping with your hands if they even splinter the wrong way.”


Stifling their giggles, the two boys looked down at the ground and started sweeping again. They focused on their work for a few minutes before making eye contact only to start giggling again, but quieter this time. They continued working hard, chatting and joking to make the work go faster.

Months later, Peter came down with a nasty sickness. After his chores and with his mother’s permission, Jeshua would run down to Peter’s house to keep him company. Sometimes Peter’s mother would let Jeshua in; other times, Peter would be too sick or too tired. One day Jeshua came to their house, only to find signs of mourning on their door. Trembling, Jeshua slowly turned home, his feet moving slow at first before quickening to a fast walk, then to a jog, then a sprint. He ran until he came to the back of his own home and sat down, leaning against wall.

His mother came out and saw him sitting there, obviously in distress. He looked up at her, his big eyes looking lost and afraid. Mary went and sat down next to him. “It’s alright,” she said softly, holding him close. He let tears silently stream down his cheeks as he leaned into his mother’s embrace. “Everything is going to be okay.”

…

As Jesus watched his dear friends shed tears of mourning for the loss of their brother, he remembered his childhood friend, Peter. The same feelings of loss and sadness returned to him, as he felt another of his beloved friends passed away to His Father. Jesus knew he would be reunited with his friends again, but he also knew he had a lot more to face in his lifetime before that time would come. He watched as Martha and Mary held each other close, wiping their eyes on their sleeves. The weight of his task felt very heavy on his shoulders in that moment, and he wept. He wept for those he had lost. He wept for Peter and his family. He wept for those he had taught and rejected him; for the families who were ostracized and in poverty; for the sins he saw every day by the unrepentant; for Martha and Mary and Lazarus as they would be separated for a time; and then, as inconceivable as it was, Jesus wept for the whole world.

Then said the Jews, Behold, how he loved him!