A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Monday, June 24,
2019
Barn in
York County, PA
(Click
on photo to enlarge)
"Sometimes We Cry"
Message
summary:
"Jesus wept." John
Piper observes
concerning this
verse, "for all
its grammatical
simplicity, it’s
packed with
unfathomable
complexity."
But
sometimes I hurt
and sometimes I
cry
Sometimes I can't get it right
No matter how hard that I seem to try
Sometimes I can't get it right
No matter how hard that I seem to try
One
of the features of
ministry is working
with people during
the inevitable hard
times in life. It
might be a
discussion about a
family matter, an
aging parent,
wayward child, a
hospital visit, or
many other
occasions. People
often weep when
sharing their
burdens. In the last
two days we have had
times of strong men
weeping as they
shared a burden they
were going through.
Their freedom to
express their
emotion is a sign of
their confidence in
their manhood.Weeping is a good thing and we have various Scriptural examples of this, perhaps most famously our two word daily text, "Jesus wept".
A folksy expression of the benefit of weeping is, "When the eyes leak, the head won't swell". Times of weeping are often times of brokenness and a realization of our humility before God.
When
grief has left you
low it causes
tears to flow
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned
But God won't forget you His promises are true
And tears are a language God understands.
When things have not turned out the way that you had planned
But God won't forget you His promises are true
And tears are a language God understands.
Many
of us know today's
verse due to it
being the shortest
verse in the Bible.
Perhaps we memorized
it as part of our
reservoir of
memorized verses.
It's sure not hard
to memorize!But as
John Piper observes,
"for all its
grammatical
simplicity, it’s
packed with
unfathomable
complexity."
The setting is in John 11, the death of our Lord's friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Verse 5 states that, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."
Why did Jesus weep?
1) The immediate context of the verse is that Jesus was deeply moved when he saw Mary and other friends weeping when they reported the death to Him. Weeping can be contagious. I know I sometimes weep when I see other people weeping. Pastors with a tender heart will periodically weep when a certain point touches him and that can cause weeping in the congregation. It's a quality of genuine emotion that I appreciate in a pastor. We recall visiting a church where the pastor was dealing with a very difficult subject and broke down in tears at the gravity of the matter.
2) Jesus wept because He loved Lazarus and his sisters. That point is specifically made (v.5). He is demonstrating His sorrow and grief, a normal and healthy human emotion. Jesus expressed grief when he received notice that John the Baptist had been slain. "Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself" (Matthew 14:13). The Scripture doesn't provide any more detail, but those words "withdrew" and "secluded place" speak volumes.
Bible teacher John MacArthur comments,
The setting is in John 11, the death of our Lord's friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Verse 5 states that, "Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus."
Why did Jesus weep?
1) The immediate context of the verse is that Jesus was deeply moved when he saw Mary and other friends weeping when they reported the death to Him. Weeping can be contagious. I know I sometimes weep when I see other people weeping. Pastors with a tender heart will periodically weep when a certain point touches him and that can cause weeping in the congregation. It's a quality of genuine emotion that I appreciate in a pastor. We recall visiting a church where the pastor was dealing with a very difficult subject and broke down in tears at the gravity of the matter.
2) Jesus wept because He loved Lazarus and his sisters. That point is specifically made (v.5). He is demonstrating His sorrow and grief, a normal and healthy human emotion. Jesus expressed grief when he received notice that John the Baptist had been slain. "Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself" (Matthew 14:13). The Scripture doesn't provide any more detail, but those words "withdrew" and "secluded place" speak volumes.
Bible teacher John MacArthur comments,
"Jesus’
tears were generated
both by His love for
Lazarus, and by His
grief over the
deadly and incessant
effects of sin in a
fallen world. Verse
35, though it is the
shortest verse in
the Bible, is rich
with meaning. It
emphasizes Jesus’
humanity; He was
truly “a man of
sorrows and
acquainted with
grief” (Isaiah
53:3). But while the
Jews were correct in
seeing Jesus’ sorrow
as evidence that He
loved Lazarus, they
were wrong to think
that His tears
reflected the same
hopeless despair
that they felt."
We
received word early
yesterday morning of
a friend in distress
and prayed and
followed up,
including a visit to
the ICU. As I drove
Brooksyne to meet
her ride to the Joni
and Friends Retreat
she is serving at
this week we
discussed this and
how at any given
time how many are in the
midst of some type
of acute sorrow and
grief. We pray God
will grant assurance
of His love and that
each will know and
accept that love.
God sees
the tears of a
brokenhearted soul
He
sees your tears
and hears them
when they fall
God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands.
God weeps along with man and takes him by the hand
Tears are a language God understands.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father,
we thank You
for the person
of Jesus who
showed us how
to live a life
set apart for
You and all
the while
endured loss,
pain,
temptation,
and other
emotions
common to
mankind. When
Jesus wept
upon hearing
of Lazarus'
death He
demonstrated
to us His
humanity in a
way that all
of us who've
suffered loss
can relate. He
wept with
those who wept
and rejoiced
with those who
rejoiced. We
too have
opportunity to
share in the
grief of
others as we
remind them
that they are
not alone but
have our
prayerful and
loving support
as they endure
their loss.
Help us to
reach out and
extend
ourselves to
those in need.
In the name of
Jesus we pray.
Amen. Note: Not covered in today's message but weeping can also be a result of deep joy and gratefulness. At times I weep during a moving sermon or song that reminds me of the blessings of God.
Note 2: "Jesus wept" is often considered the shortest verse in the Bible. Here's a point of trivia some may find interesting. In the Greek "Jesus wept" translates these Greek words Ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς. However in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 the Greek is Πάντοτε χαίρετε, which translates "Rejoice always". Now I am not sure when you read this the Greek character will render correctly but there are actually less Greek character in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 than John 11:35!
Last
night Ester
and I went to
hear the
Collingsworth
family at
Music In The
Park in
Lebanon, PA.
This is indeed
a family group
with a mother
and father and
four children
who have sung
together for
many years.
Three of the
children are
married and
their spouses
travel with
the group,
along with
some
grandchildren.
The
concerts are
held in a
beautiful park
in Lebanon PA.
Lots
of people out
on a very
pleasant
evening!
What
a joy to visit
with our
friends John
and Faithe
Keefer.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental Resources
"Sometimes I
Cry" Video
Jason Crabb A candid
expression of need. This
song prompted our message
title today.
"Tears Are A
language" Video
Gordon Jensen A
timeless message from the
seventies, a new song when
we were just getting started
in ministry.
"Your Ways Are
Higher Than Mine"
Video
The Collingsworth Family We
heard this song last night
at the concert and dedicate
to all in the midst of
trouble.
Finally today:
Yesterday
Brooksyne went up to Spruce
Lake in the Poconos with a
group from Calvary Church to
serve with a short term
mission team at a Joni and
Friends Family Retreat
this week. We welcome our
readers to pray for her
during this time.
"The Joy That
It Brings" Video
Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne
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Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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