2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 148
Come and See
John 11:17–44
“Jesus began to cry.” John 11:35 CEB
Yesterday we stood at the edge of the story, watching Jesus delay, pray, and then begin the journey toward Bethany. Today we arrive at the tomb. And what hits hardest for me isn't Lazarus walking out. It's Jesus sadness that is expressed as uncontrollable weeping.
John has already shown us that Jesus knows exactly what He is about to do. He has not arrived confused or uncertain. He has already declared that this sickness would not end in death. He knows resurrection is moments away. Yet, He still cries.
Sometimes we imagine that faith should eliminate grief; as though hope somehow makes sorrow unnecessary. John gives us a different picture.
Martha believes. Mary believes. Jesus knows resurrection is coming. And everyone is still crying... Including Jesus. N.T. Wright observes, there is a difference between hopeless grief and hopeful grief. Hopeful grief is still grief. It still hurts. Tears still come. Hearts still break. The Christian story has never required us to pretend otherwise. In fact, when we see Jesus weeping, we are seeing something profound about God. The Word made flesh does not stand at a safe distance from human suffering. He enters it. He bears it. He shares it.
The God revealed in Jesus is not indifferent to our pain. He is the God who stands beside a tomb and cries. That truth has become increasingly real to me over the past months. There are questions that remain unanswered. There are losses that cannot simply be explained away. There are moments when resurrection still feels far off. Yet Jesus comes near... not always with immediate explanations or solutions, but with His presence.
Then comes a very meaningful echo from earlier in John’s Gospel. Jesus asks, “Where have you laid him?” And they answer, “Come and see.” Those words should sound familiar. At the beginning of John’s Gospel, Jesus invited His first disciples: “Come and see.” Now the invitation is reversed.
“Come and see.”
Come and see the grief. Come and see the loss. Come and see the disappointment. Come and see the thing that appears beyond hope... and Jesus accepts the invitation.
That may be one of the most important acts of faith we can offer. To bring Jesus honestly to the places that hurt. To stop pretending. To stop hiding. To simply say: “Lord, come and see.”
Come and see my fear. Come and see my grief. Come and see my unanswered questions. Come and see the places where hope feels buried.
The beautiful promise of the Gospel is that Jesus never leaves us there. He enters the sorrow, then He leads us through it. The same Jesus who follows Martha and Mary to a tomb will soon walk toward His own. Because He does, grief never gets the final word.
John has already shown us that Jesus knows exactly what He is about to do. He has not arrived confused or uncertain. He has already declared that this sickness would not end in death. He knows resurrection is moments away. Yet, He still cries.
Sometimes we imagine that faith should eliminate grief; as though hope somehow makes sorrow unnecessary. John gives us a different picture.
Martha believes. Mary believes. Jesus knows resurrection is coming. And everyone is still crying... Including Jesus. N.T. Wright observes, there is a difference between hopeless grief and hopeful grief. Hopeful grief is still grief. It still hurts. Tears still come. Hearts still break. The Christian story has never required us to pretend otherwise. In fact, when we see Jesus weeping, we are seeing something profound about God. The Word made flesh does not stand at a safe distance from human suffering. He enters it. He bears it. He shares it.
The God revealed in Jesus is not indifferent to our pain. He is the God who stands beside a tomb and cries. That truth has become increasingly real to me over the past months. There are questions that remain unanswered. There are losses that cannot simply be explained away. There are moments when resurrection still feels far off. Yet Jesus comes near... not always with immediate explanations or solutions, but with His presence.
Then comes a very meaningful echo from earlier in John’s Gospel. Jesus asks, “Where have you laid him?” And they answer, “Come and see.” Those words should sound familiar. At the beginning of John’s Gospel, Jesus invited His first disciples: “Come and see.” Now the invitation is reversed.
“Come and see.”
Come and see the grief. Come and see the loss. Come and see the disappointment. Come and see the thing that appears beyond hope... and Jesus accepts the invitation.
That may be one of the most important acts of faith we can offer. To bring Jesus honestly to the places that hurt. To stop pretending. To stop hiding. To simply say: “Lord, come and see.”
Come and see my fear. Come and see my grief. Come and see my unanswered questions. Come and see the places where hope feels buried.
The beautiful promise of the Gospel is that Jesus never leaves us there. He enters the sorrow, then He leads us through it. The same Jesus who follows Martha and Mary to a tomb will soon walk toward His own. Because He does, grief never gets the final word.
Faith In Action
Take a few quiet moments today and identify one place of grief, disappointment, fear, or uncertainty that you may have been carrying alone. Instead of trying to fix it, explain it, or suppress it, simply bring it before Jesus.
Pray these simple words: “Lord, come and see.”
Then sit quietly and allow His presence to meet you there.
Pray these simple words: “Lord, come and see.”
Then sit quietly and allow His presence to meet you there.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Savior who weeps. Thank You that You do not stand at a distance from our pain, but enter into it with compassion, tenderness, and love.
When grief feels heavy, remind us that You understand. When questions remain unanswered, remind us that You are present. When hope feels buried beneath sorrow, remind us that You are still the Lord of resurrection.
Teach us to bring You honestly into the deepest places of our lives.
Give us the courage to say, “Come and see.” Come and see our fears. Come and see our losses. Come and see our doubts.
And then lead us, step by step, toward the life, hope, and resurrection that only You can bring. Amen.
When grief feels heavy, remind us that You understand. When questions remain unanswered, remind us that You are present. When hope feels buried beneath sorrow, remind us that You are still the Lord of resurrection.
Teach us to bring You honestly into the deepest places of our lives.
Give us the courage to say, “Come and see.” Come and see our fears. Come and see our losses. Come and see our doubts.
And then lead us, step by step, toward the life, hope, and resurrection that only You can bring. Amen.
Posted in Bible Reading Plan 2026
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