In John 11 there is a long story about Jesus raising his friend Lazarus from the dead. We learn that Jesus was incredibly emotionally present. Here’s what that chapter of the Bible says about Jesus’ emotional state:
- When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
- Jesus wept.
- Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb.
Jesus was very clear, however, that He knew that He would raise Lazarus from death saying previously in John 11:11, “I go to awaken him.”
Jesus knew that Lazarus would be okay. And, Jesus also became very emotional seeing others suffering and grieving. Why? Because Jesus is emotionally present in the moment even though He trusts in the future.
There is a very important lesson here. When crisis our trouble hits, sometimes Christians can so focus on the future that they are not emotionally present in the moment. We can quote perfectly good Scripture about God working out all things for good, the great future down the road that God has planned for us, or the glories of heaven. But, while those things are true eventually what is also true immediately is that people are hurting and suffering. Jesus perfectly models being emotionally present in the moment while also trusting the Father for the future.
How about you, are you better at being emotionally present in the moment or trusting God for the future?