Monday, June 7, 2010

The Morning Cup -- Jesus Wept


One of, if not the most recognizable verses in the Bible is "Jesus wept." C.E.W. Dorris wrote in his commentary on John, "The shortest verse in the Bible, but one of the most touching. How precious those tears which assure the real, tender, loving, sympathizing humanity of Jesus in the very moment in which he is preparing to exert his omnipotence." Guy N. Woods suggested in his commentary on John that the verse should be remembered for its "information" not for its shortness. He goes on to say about Christ, "Great though His sorrow was at the tomb of Lazarus, His grief was far more manifest over the loss of souls than of the death of the body. Too, Lazarus was soon to be raised and the sorrow of the sisters would be turned into joy; there was no such hope for the rebellious people and nation of the Jews." What can we learn from these two powerful words, "Jesus wept"?


We learn what the perception of the people was. "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him". There is no doubt that Jesus was compassionate. Christ had compassion toward the multitude. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). Christ had compassion toward two blind men. "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him" (Matthew 20:34). There is no doubt that Christ loved Jerusalem. The tears of a widow brought out the compassion of Christ as He raised her son from death. Christ must have been touched by pain of Mary and Martha and his tears would have been a nature outgrowth.


We can also learn that His tears were linked to their lack of understanding. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this". Brother Woods writes, "The Lord perceived that Martha did not comprehend the meaning of His words, 'Thy brother shall rise again'". Brother Woods goes on to say that Christ was making an emphatic statement. "The personal pronoun is emphatic in the Greek text; I, and no other, am the resurrection and the life. He was the origin, the design and the power of both; in no way were they obtainable except by Him." Do we understand and believe that Christ is the resurrection and the life?


We can learn that Jesus used this situation to prove His power and to produce faith. "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." (John 11:41,42) We have the written accounts of His miracles to produce faith. John penned, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name."


When you find yourself in tears, we might do ourselves a favor by asking, "Would Christ be crying with me or for me"? There is a huge difference.


MR

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