2022-09-18 He Cried With Me

There are many types of judges in the court systems of the world. Some judges are known to almost always give out the harshest sentences possible. Others are more lenient. What makes an ideal judge? That would depend on your perspective. If you believe that harsh sentences are a good deterrent for people, you’ll want a judge with little compassion for criminals. If you believe that harsh sentences only lead to more crime, you’ll prefer a more lenient judge. I think most of us would want a judge who understands the law and understands that true evil exists, but who is also a compassionate person.

Just as many people think of judges as cold-hearted, many people think of God the same way, especially when they think of God in the OT.

Yet, God doesn’t describe himself that way. God describes himself as, “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness and rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6, 7) In other words, a merciful God.

Isaiah prophesied that even though God would bring punishment for all the sins of the people, someday he would again have mercy.

Is God a harsh judge? Yes, and no. Yes, he does punish his people because of their wickedness. He does bring on them what they deserve. But he does so because of his great love. He wants what is best for them. He can’t stand seeing his people destroy each other through their ungodly living. He can’t stand seeing them waste their lives trusting in idols that can do nothing for them. And when the punishment and judgement bring about the sorrow he desires, his compassion and love kick into high gear. Isaiah prophesied that even though God would bring punishment for all the sins of the people, someday he would again have mercy. God had a vision of a compassionate Messiah. (read Isaiah 42:1-4) In other words, this ‘chosen one’ would be a man of compassion and mercy.

Jesus, Our Compassionate Saviour

When the Messiah came, that’s what he was. (read Matthew 9:35-36)

He saw the people as sheep without a shepherd. Harassed and helpless.

His compassion and love were deep. For three years Jesus wandered around Galilee, Judea, Samaria and the surrounding area, teaching, healing people, casting out demons, even raising people from the dead. As a result, people flocked to him. When they were with Jesus, they could sense the compassion and love of God. For a brief moment everything was made right. Health and happiness were there, wholeness returned, joy erupted. Jesus’ compassion was evident to all. It was obvious to all. They could see it in his words, and they could see it in his actions of healing and exorcism.

There is a story of Jesus that I want to look at today that demonstrates his compassion very well. It’s in John 11. It took place a short while before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus has been in Jerusalem, but because they tried to stone him, he retreated to the other side of the Jordan River where John had baptized before his death. Then word came to Jesus from Mary and Martha that Lazarus was sick. Jesus stayed where he is for two more days before beginning to make his way back to Bethany. Things are tense. There is danger at every turn. (read John 11:8, 16) But Jesus heads into the storm. Now let’s read the second part of the story. (read John 11:17-32)

None of this is a surprise to Jesus. In v11, when they were still on the other side of the Jordan, Jesus told his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going to wake him up.” Then, when his disciples don’t get it, he says in v14, “Lazarus is dead,” Jesus knows what he’s going towards. He’s going to a man dead for four days and plans to raise him from the dead. Most of us when we know what we’re facing can control our emotions much better. Our highs are lower, and our lows are higher. I’ve watched replays of the Bombers last two Grey Cup final moments. I’ve enjoyed them but not nearly as much as when it was live. The same is true when I go to the grave of someone I have loved a while after they died. I don’t shed as many tears. But even though he knew what he would do, that he would raise Lazarus from the dead, it hit Jesus. Right in the solar plexus. Hard. His gut was wrenched. (read vv33-36)

The author of life wept because of the grief of death. The one who was about to reverse the curse of death wept over the cost of death. Think about how he gently interacts with Mary and Martha. He doesn’t brush them off on his way to a big miracle. He reassures Martha that her brother will rise again, and when she affirms that someday it will happen, he tells her that it is he himself who has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead. He asks Martha to get Mary. He wants to meet with them and share their grief. Their grief became his grief. “He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” He wept for his friends Mary and Martha. He wept for all those mourning with them. I think he wept with Adam and Eve as they wept over Abel and with every grieving person since. None of this was what he wanted. No death on earth was part of his good plan. He created us to live and not die. In this story, Jesus encountered death firsthand and encountered the pain that comes from it.

I want to reassure you today, that when you weep over all the losses you experience that are caused by sin in this world, Jesus weeps with you. Yes, he can reverse it, and he did defeat death and all the power of sin on the cross and yes, some day, everything will be made right again, but in the meantime, he weeps with us. He mourns with us. He understands our grief and our loss. Every time someone rejects him, he experiences loss, the pain of rejection and broken relationship. And when that person dies and goes to an eternity without God, I am convinced that Jesus grieves. It is not what he wanted or intended, and he demonstrated this when he raised Lazarus from the dead. (read John 11:38-44)

Conclusion

Jesus is the complete fullness of God. He is both just and merciful. When Isaiah was prophesying about the ‘chosen one’ who would come who would not break a bruised reed or snuff out a smoldering wick, he was talking about Jesus who fulfilled that prophecy. He was full of compassion and loved all who turned to him. He lived out the self-description of God in the OT, “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness and rebellion and sin.” Jesus cries with you and he cries with me. He weeps over the consequences of sin that we bring on ourselves. When all is dark and we’re in despair, Jesus is there with us, weeping with us.

I urge you to turn to him, your weeping, compassionate, gracious and loving Saviour.

Pray

Benediction: 2 Thess. 2:16, 17

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