Grace For The Journey

As I have to students over the years, I have enjoyed asking them for their favorite memory verse.  Inevitable, someone would use John 11:35 . . .

“Jesus wept!”

They mostly would quote that as a quick way to give an answer … I always inquire if they had another one.  As first glance the verse seems to be “light” on scriptural truth.  However, if you think about all that is going on and being said in the context of that verse, you will see that it is really “deep” in truth that we need to live by.

I find it quite remarkable that Jesus wept.  It’s really not extraordinary that He did weep – remember that He was fully God but also fully man – but it is the context in which He wept that is striking.  If you remember, Jesus was standing outside of the tomb of Lazarus, the man He was about to raise from the dead.  You might well wonder . . .

If Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead,

Why in the world would He stand outside of his tomb weeping?

I think it is clear that Jesus entered into the pain of Mary, Martha, and their friends at the deepest possible level . . . and so Jesus WEPT!

Now we all know that this is the shortest verse in the Scripture, but it seems to also have the deepest, richest meaning . . .

Our Savior reaches deep into the sorrows of His saints

And enters into the pain of His people.

The Bible clearly teaches this.  God’s Word tells us in Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all pointes tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  Jesus is unable to understand and sympathize with us in our weakness and grief.  The Bible tells us further that Jesus is “a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).  He enters into our trials and tribulations, our problems and pain with understanding and the ability to walk with us and work through us all the way.

What a wonderful consolation to know

That Jesus s with us

When we are most vulnerable!

No doubt, Jesus could have repressed His tears.  Most men do just that.  But Jesus refused to be unnatural at any point of contact with humanity.  It is natural to weep when we are in a season of sorrow and suffering.  It is natural to let our tears flow from the fountain of personal pain.

It is a source of great comfort to know that

Jesus did not find it “weak”

Or

Shameful to show His human weakness.

Remember, Jesus got tired, hungry, and thirsty.  He was just like us in every way . . . expect without sin.

As a pastor, I have found that often this is the best ministry that you can provide for someone who is in pain.

The ministry of tears reaches deeply into the hearts of man

And ministers in ways that cannot be matched by words or deeds.

And tears translate into every imaginable language!

The Bible tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

Regardless of where this finds you today, you have a friend in Jesus who sticks closer than a brother and who is not afraid to weep with you.  Remember, Jesus wept . . . and then He commanded, “Roll the stone away” and “Lazarus come forth!”

Jesus met His friends and followers in their deepest place of pain first,

Then He demonstrated that He was more than just a man.

He was the incarnate God, who had power over life and death.

So when you find yourself in a season of sorrow and grief, don’t forget that you weep in the best of company . . . because JESUS WEPT!

This is God’s Word For Today … This Is Grace For The Journey

Rest and Rejoice in this eternal truth!

Pastor Terry

Ephesians 4:7 – “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”

Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”