Lent Day 25 [03.18.2026] The Kindred Spirit

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." - John 11:25

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Jesus receives news that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, lay sick in Bethany. Jesus remains in Perea, the east side of the Jordan river, for two more days before traveling to Bethany in Judea. Rather than immediately departing to Bethany, Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus had passed away. Not only this, but Jesus’ disciples deter Jesus from returning to Bethany because just earlier that day, the Jews there were trying to stone Him. Yet Jesus responds by reassuring them that He walks in the light, not in the shadow of darkness and goes to Bethany

Upon His arrival, Marth and Mary share their grief amid their hopeful faith. In regret they look at Jesus and exclaim that if He had come earlier their brother would not have died. Jesus claims that Lazarus will rise again, but they mistakenly think that Jesus is speaking on the final days when the faithful will rise from the dead; however, Jesus was referring to the present resurrection that would take place. Jesus commands the people to remove the stone and calls out to Lazarus who walks out of the tomb still with his hands and feet wrapped in strips of linen and a cloth around his face.

Despite the infinite chasm between Jesus and His creation, Jesus submits His heart to the needs of His people. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and therefore has the absolute power to resurrect Lazarus from the dead. In fact, Jesus could have done this from afar from the safety of Perea rather than risk persecution in the hands of the Jews in Judea. Moreover, Jesus could have done all of this upon receiving the news that Lazarus was sick rather than wait until Lazarus had died. Why did Jesus allow death to take its course and risk His own life by returning to Judea? The apostle John reveals Jesus’ motive throughout this account: Jesus was deeply moved.

Why does God allow suffering to take its course in our lives even to the brink? It is not because He does not care or has abandoned us, and it is also not because He is limited in His power but is moved to demonstrate His absolute and unlimited glory so that we would see the magnitude of His love. It is not that He waits for the opportune moment on the sidelines, rather He endures through the suffering with us, weeping with us, hurting with us, and grieving with us through the process and heals us of it all. He is the great counselor, the comforter, the kindred spirit, and the Almighty God.

Reflection:

1.     Why do we often find it difficult to trust in Jesus amid our suffering?

2.     How can we find comfort in knowing that Jesus is a kindred spirit in our suffering?

Prayer:

Dear God, there are many times I do not understand my suffering and find myself deep in doubt. Thank you for the reminder that my suffering is not the absence of God but in the presence of God who shares a kindred spirit in my darkest moments. Help me to trust in you through the process and wait upon your glory. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

제목: 같은 마음을 품으신 주님

본문: 요한복음 11:1-44

예수님께서는 나사로가 병들었다는 소식을 들으셨습니다. 나사로는 마리아와 마르다의 오빠로, 베다니에 살고 있었습니다. 그러나 예수님은 즉시 베다니로 가지 않으시고, 요단강 동편 베레아에 이틀 더 머무르셨습니다. 그 결과 예수님께서 도착하셨을 때는 나사로가 이미 죽은 지 나흘이 지난 뒤였습니다. 게다가 제자들은 얼마 전 유대인들이 예수님을 돌로 치려 했던 일을 기억하며, 베다니로 돌아가는 것을 만류했습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 예수님은 자신이 어둠이 아닌 빛 가운데 행하신다고 말씀하시며 베다니로 가셨습니다.

예수님께서 도착하셨을 때, 마르다와 마리아는 슬픔 속에서도 믿음을 가지고 예수님께 나아옵니다. 그러나 그들은 “주께서 여기 계셨더라면 우리 오라버니가 죽지 아니하였겠나이다”라고 말하며 안타까움을 표현합니다. 예수님은 나사로가 다시 살아날 것이라고 말씀하시지만, 그들은 이것을 마지막 날의 부활로 오해합니다. 그러나 예수님께서는 지금 이 자리에서 일어날 부활을 말씀하신 것이었습니다.

예수님은 돌을 옮기라고 명하시고, 큰 소리로 나사로를 부르십니다. 그러자 나사로가 수족을 베로 동인 채, 얼굴에는 수건이 감긴 상태로 무덤에서 걸어 나옵니다.

예수님과 인간 사이에는 무한한 차이가 있지만, 예수님은 자신의 마음을 우리에게 내어주십니다. 예수님은 전능하시고, 전지하시며, 어디에나 계시는 분이시기에 멀리서도 나사로를 살리실 수 있었습니다. 또한 굳이 유대인들의 위협이 있는 유대로 돌아가실 필요도 없으셨습니다. 심지어 나사로가 병들었을 때 바로 고치실 수도 있었습니다. 그런데 왜 예수님은 죽음이 진행되도록 두셨고, 위험을 감수하며 유대로 돌아가셨을까요?

사도 요한은 그 이유를 이렇게 보여줍니다: 예수님께서 깊이 마음에 감동하셨기 때문입니다.

하나님께서 우리의 삶 속에서 고통이 극에 달하도록 허락하시는 이유는 무엇일까요? 그것은 하나님께서 우리를 버리셨기 때문도 아니고, 능력이 부족하시기 때문도 아닙니다. 오히려 하나님께서는 자신의 크고 놀라운 영광을 드러내시기 위해, 그리고 우리가 그분의 사랑의 깊이를 깨닫게 하시기 위해 그렇게 하십니다.

하나님은 멀리서 기회를 기다리는 분이 아니라, 우리의 고통 가운데 함께하시며, 함께 우시고, 함께 아파하시고, 함께 슬퍼하시는 분입니다. 그리고 결국 모든 것을 치유하십니다.그분은 위로자이시며, 상담자이시며, 우리의 마음을 함께 나누시는 분이시며, 전능하신 하나님이십니다.

묵상 질문

1. 우리는 왜 고통 가운데서 예수님을 신뢰하기 어려워할까요?

2. 예수님께서 우리의 고통에 함께하시는 분이라는 사실이 어떻게 위로가 될 수 있을까요?

   
   

기도

하나님, 저는 때때로 제 고통을 이해하지 못하고 의심에 빠질 때가 있습니다. 그러나 제 고통이 하나님이 없는 상태가 아니라, 하나님이 함께하시는 자리임을 깨닫게 해주셔서 감사합니다. 제 가장 어두운 순간에도 저와 같은 마음으로 함께하시는 주님을 신뢰하게 하시고, 주님의 영광을 기다릴 수 있도록 도와주세요. 예수님의 이름으로 기도드립니다. 아멘.