Thoughts in Worship Message Magazines Online Devotional for Monday, November 24, 2014 Based Upon Matthew 23 - “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). These two words are perhaps the most quoted by people who are pressed to share a Bible verse from memory and they cannot recall John 3:16. Little was understood by those who witnessed Jesus’ grief at the tomb of Lazarus, and little is understood concerning Jesus’ grief today. - What would cause Jesus enough grief that He would weep? I would just like to point out, before we answer this question, that weeping is a bit more intense than basic crying. There is a deep moaning soul agony that accompanies the tears of those who weep. When we lose loved ones, we weep. When we face life’s most difficult trials we weep. When we feel hopeless, we weep. So, when Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and the people thought His agony was due to the fact that His beloved friend was deceased, it further intensified His sadness. For, the One who is the Resurrection and the Life had no need to despair concerning His friend’s temporary rest in the tomb. In the fulness of time, Jesus simply called His friend by name, commanded death to release its grasp, and Lazarus was raised in the vigor of life. That being said, what would cause Jesus enough grief that He would weep? - As was the case standing before the tomb of Lazarus, such was the case of Christ standing before His beloved Jerusalem highlighted in our theme chapter. Jesus wept, because His special people, the apple of His eye, were overcome with unbelief. There spiritual diseases had gone untreated for so long, that their proverbial bodies could no longer withstand the cruel pall of death. His people, who were called by His name, and intended to proclaim Him to the world had cherished pride and wickedness to the point of abandoning their Creator. He would be forced to accept their ultimate decision to exclude Him from their lives, and their destruction would be the inevitable consequence. Was this a punitive judgment? It was more a consequence of their choices. When we, God forbid, choose to separate ourselves from the One who is our life, death is our only outcome. It was not without a struggle that Jesus was compelled to accept His people’s decision. Thus Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37–39). - The One who wept before the tomb of Lazarus, and wept over His beloved Jerusalem, reaches to all in our day with open arms. His endearing eyes well up with tears of agony as some of us rebuff His persistent overtures. He, who called Lazarus from what some believed was his hopeless demise, can only desire for us to respond to Him in repentance. He, who could command death to release its grasp on the man, can only plead that we would release our grasp upon cherished sins that will lead to our death. But should we choose to throw our helpless selves into His care in response to His tender call, He will triumph in our lives. He will not turn His back upon those who seek His face, even after years of failure. Dry His tears, friends, if He must weep for you. Turn His grief into joy. You can impact heaven with one vital decision—to repent. Concerning the joy we have over finding lost treasures, the Bible says, “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15:10). Dry His tears! Let Jesus weep over you no more.—L. David Harris (davidwritesalot)
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 11:12:12 +0000
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