Jesus Wept

I have heard it said that this is the shortest verse in the Bible and it seems like most believers, and many non-believers also, know about it.  I wonder how many times people have said this verse found in John 11:35 flippantly, not really thinking about what it means?  This is the only place that I know of where it says that Jesus wept in God’s Word.  Thinking of this, I think of how man was made in the image of God and how Jesus was the God man, fully God and fully man, and through His actions and His words we can know that this is true.  

When you think of the story of Lazarus and know that Jesus could have healed him before he died, like He did for many other people, it is easy to wonder why He didn’t.  This was a man that Jesus loved, along with his sisters, Mary and Martha.  You can also read about Jesus visiting Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42.  It would have been easy for Jesus to have healed Lazarus, even though He wasn’t right there with him, like He did for the Centurion’s servant in Matthew 8:5-13; check out verse 13, “Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour.”

This brings to mind how many things that happen in our lives that we don’t understand, knowing the Lord could have brought about a different outcome than the one He allowed.  There are some things we will never understand, which reminds me of a book I read years ago called, “When God Doesn’t Make Sense” by Dr. Dobson.  I think the Lord always makes sense; it is us that can’t seem to discern what He is doing.  

Even though Jesus knew that Lazarus was sick, He didn’t chose to heal him because this sickness was to bring glory to God and also to strengthen the people’s faith that were there and saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the tomb.  This is what it says in John 11:3-4, “Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.’ When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’”

Now read what it says in verses 31-37, “Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, ‘She is going to the tomb to weep there.’ Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’ Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’ And some of them said, ‘Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?’”

Jesus demonstrated His great love and compassion, not only for Lazarus, but also for his sisters and all the others who were there.  When I think of the gods that have been worshiped over the years and how stern and demanding they seemed to be, I am glad I serve the only true God, the One that gives us a free will and is full of compassion, mercy, love and forgiveness, a God that is just and fair not giving us what we deserve but what we don’t deserve.

Did you ever think of this?  Jesus may weep daily over the injustice that is taking place in our society and the world today. I think Jesus may weep over the homosexuals that have come out of the closet, instead of cleaning it, and the babies that are being killed daily for money and great gain, and what about fornication, prostitution and porn, and there are so many other sins, such as pride, rebelliousness, a lying tongue, murder and adultery.  I could put down many more sins here, but I think you got the message.

Because the Lord loves people so much, I believe He might weep over unbelief and unbelievers maybe more than all the others because He is not a respecter of persons; He loves us all the same and wants everyone to be saved.  The Bible says that He is not willing that any be lost but that all come to repentance.  Aren’t you happy the Lord loves us and doesn’t give us what we deserve but instead He gives us His gift of grace?  Why don’t you take some time today and thank and praise Him for His gift of love, mercy and forgiveness and for His amazing grace.  Something to think about!  I hope this Tidbit has been an encouragement to you and may the good Lord bless you and yours and I hope you have a great day!!