The online
Bible teaching
ministry of
Stephen &
Brooksyne
Weber
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Monday,
January 15, 2024
As
we parked our
car to attend
church
yesterday an
Amish family
was also
heading to
church (or so
we presume)
along Landis
Valley Road.
Ester took
this photo and
it appears no
one is in the
buggy though
we haven't
heard whether
the Amish have
invented the
self-driving
buggy yet!
"Grieving
With
Hope"
Message
summary:
"Jesus wept."
John Piper
observes
concerning
this verse,
"for all its
grammatical
simplicity,
it’s packed
with
unfathomable
complexity."
We can, as
followers of
Christ and
believers in
His promises,
grieve with
hope. We pray
God will grant
assurance of
His love and
that each
reader will
come to know
and accept
that love.
“Jesus
wept” (John
11:35). “Godly
men buried
Stephen and
mourned deeply
for him” (Acts
8:2). "But we
do not want
you to be
uninformed,
brothers,
about those
who are
asleep, that
you may not
grieve as
others do who
have no hope"
(1
Thessalonians
4:13).
Early
each year our
church has a
very moving
PowerPoint
presentation
where those in
the church who
died the
previous year
are being
remembered.
Their photos
are posted as
all ages are
represented
from the hand
prints of a
baby (perhaps
preborn) to
the very
elderly. Our
church has a
large staff
and a number
of them grew
up in the
church,
including our
senior pastor,
Pastor Beau.
George
May, pastor of
counseling and
family
ministries,
introduced our
Time of
Remembrance
and pointed
out that
Marian Hess, a
98 year old
church member
who had passed
away this
previous year,
had also
taught him in
children's
church some 50
years earlier!
He reminded
the
congregation
that we still
have
hope even in
the midst of
grief.
That
brought to
mind our third
daily text, "that
you may not
grieve as
others do who
have no hope"
(1
Thessalonians
4:13).
One of the very important duties of those in ministry is coming alongside others during the inevitably hard times in life. It might be a discussion about a troubling family matter, an aging parent, wayward child, a hospital visit, or other difficult subject matters. People often weep when sharing their burdens. Of course we especially consider grief at the time a loved one dies. We have seen "tough" men weeping as they shared a burden they were going through.
Weeping is a good thing and we have various Scriptural examples of this, perhaps most famously our two word first daily text, "Jesus wept". Many like to select this Scripture to memorize since it's among the shortest in the Bible, but there is a tremendous supernatural story about to unfold that is packed into those two words. John Piper observes, "for all its grammatical simplicity, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity".
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.
The setting is in John 11, the death of our Lord's friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Luke 11:5 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 tear up or even weep when I see others weeping. Pastors with a tender heart will periodically weep when a certain point touches them 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,
We can, as followers of Christ and believers in His promises, grieve with hope. We pray that God will grant assurance of His love and that each will know and accept that love.
One of the very important duties of those in ministry is coming alongside others during the inevitably hard times in life. It might be a discussion about a troubling family matter, an aging parent, wayward child, a hospital visit, or other difficult subject matters. People often weep when sharing their burdens. Of course we especially consider grief at the time a loved one dies. We have seen "tough" men weeping as they shared a burden they were going through.
Weeping is a good thing and we have various Scriptural examples of this, perhaps most famously our two word first daily text, "Jesus wept". Many like to select this Scripture to memorize since it's among the shortest in the Bible, but there is a tremendous supernatural story about to unfold that is packed into those two words. John Piper observes, "for all its grammatical simplicity, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity".
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
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
Tears are a language God understands.
The setting is in John 11, the death of our Lord's friend Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. Luke 11:5 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 tear up or even weep when I see others weeping. Pastors with a tender heart will periodically weep when a certain point touches them 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 can, as followers of Christ and believers in His promises, grieve with hope. We pray that 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.
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.
Be
encouraged
today,
Hebrews
3:13
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 characters in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 than John 11:35!
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"PowerPoint
presentation
"Remembering
Those With the
Lord 2023"
(1/14/24
service)"
Watch
on YouTube
(Includes
introduction)
Ester counted
67 that were
remembered in
this special
time of
remembrance.
"Tears
Are A
Language"
Watch
on YouTube
Booth
Brothers
This was a
popular song
back in the
seventies and
has an
enduring
message.
Last
week we saw a
special friend
in Lebanon,
PA.
Dennis "Bunny"
O'Hare
is a chaplain
to the
trucking
industry. We
first met
Bunny and his
wife, Peg, at
a conference
in Boston in
January 2000
and within
several years
we had all
relocated to
Lancaster
County for
separate
ministry
opportunities.
Bunny is now
82 and still
going strong!
Bunny has a vibrant personality and ready witness. His trademark question is, "Do you know what today is?" Which of course elicits a number of responses. Bunny then says, "Today is the day God has given me the opportunity to tell you that Jesus loves you!"
Bunny has a vibrant personality and ready witness. His trademark question is, "Do you know what today is?" Which of course elicits a number of responses. Bunny then says, "Today is the day God has given me the opportunity to tell you that Jesus loves you!"
Years
ago I shared
his testimony
in a daily
encouragement
message, "Four
Dimensional
Love"
Two
nights ago
Ester was
sitting on the
edge of her
bed when she
turned around
and caught
this sight.
Rosie, on her
own, decided
to cozy up
with Ester's
other stuffed
animals to
settle down
for a time of
rest. She
eventually
fell asleep.
Ester also
made a video
that just may
bring a smile.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
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Stephen
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Weber
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Joy, PA 17552
To
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(This will
open to a page
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Stephen and
Brooksyne
Weber -
700001-237376
serving in
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Encouragement
is our
endorsed
special
chaplaincy
ministry).Thank
you,
Stephen & Brooksyne
Stephen & Brooksyne
2024
offerings YTD:
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.
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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