After looking at that passage a little more . . .I've again found a problem with how King James translates it. It speaks of Jesus "groaning" within himself. And as we look at our use of the word, and given the context here that Jesus' best friend just dies . . .we ASSUME he's mourning. But that's not what groaning here means. Here's a definition I pulled up off of esword .. . .
embrimaomai
em-brim-ah'-om-ahee
From G1722 and βριμάομαι brimaomai (to snort with anger); to have indignation on, that is, (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin, (specifically) to sternly enjoin: - straitly charge, groan, murmur against.
Jesus wasn't mourning, he was ticked off. So in seeing that, I had to go back to the context and see what it was I missed because up to now, I've seen that Jesus was moved by the emotion and love the others had for the passing of their beloved.
30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
Could it be, instead of him mourning "with" them, he was disgusted "at" them for not believing that he could do what he said he'd do? I think it's even more telling a couple verses later.
34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35Jesus wept.
36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Groaneth . .. same word . . .same emotion. he was ticked off at them for their cynicism.
39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
I sense our own emotions have come to the surface against each other and rather than edifying, we're imploding. The message and the reason for boards such as these and the thousands of others out there like them, is for the purpose of eagles gathering together. Every flock tends to attrack vultures as well. Eagles feed on the life of truth in each other, the vultures live for the death of others. The focus for us is to look for and live in the room that illuminates the fact that you are a resurrected people. You are not here to use your sword against another, but to let light shine through you that edifies and builds up another. Let the discipline come to those whom authority is appointed to. And when dealing with these forums . .with "this" forum, there is a short list of mods that have accepted that role . ..for the rest of us, can we not pursue the love of Christ for the maturity of ourselves?
