I. Jesus saw 33a (2)

John 11:32-37 “Jesus Knows”

“During the London blitz of World War II many children were evacuated to the country by order of the government. As one load pulled out, someone asked a youngster, “Where are you going?” He replied, “I don’t know BUT THE KING KNOWS!”

King Jesus knows where you are, what you are going through, and where you will end up.

The Gospel of John teaches us that Jesus is the God who loved us enough to leave His glory and enter into the troubles of humanity. John 1:14 (a) “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us!

Jesus though God has experienced our life experiences. He knows what it’s like to hurt and to grieve the loss of loved one.

* Show the Context*

CPS: Many of you are grieving the loss of a dear loved one, and today I want you to understand that Jesus knows firsthand what you are going through and you can turn to Him for help!

I. Jesus saw 33a

The Bible tells us that Jesus saw what Mary and Martha faced. Jesus saw them weeping. Saw is the Greek verb horaō it means to see, to pay attention to, to concern oneself with. In this text we find Jesus concerned!

Humanity needs to know that someone is concerned for them. Hurt is a natural consequence of fallen humanity but it does us good to know that we are not left alone in hurt. Our countenance is lifted when we know that people care.

Mamie Adams always went to a branch post office in her town because the postal employees there were friendly. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby.

“I know,” said Mamie, ‘but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.”

We find relief in knowing that people care, but how much more relief will we experience when we truly understand how much Jesus cares. Jesus knows and is concerned!

Jesus saw Mary’s tears, as she wept over the loss of her brother. Weeping is the Greek verb klaiō it means to wail or cry loudly. Mary was emotionally distraught and Jesus took notice and was concerned for her.

Mary wasn’t the only one weeping. the Bible tells us the Jews who came with her also weeping. Who are these Jews? Some could have been friends but in ancient Israel there was a custom that “Even the poorest in Israel should hire not less than two flutes and one wailing woman.” Most likely these were professional mourners, the plural (Jews) indicates there were many, this speaks of the wealth of Mary’s family.

Mary’s wealth and all the paid mourners in the world could not bring the relief that Mary would find at the feet of Jesus!

Jesus saw Mary’s tears and heard her sobs, He sees your tears and hears your sobs. As Jesus was concerned for Mary He is concerned for you, because He loves you and cares for you.

Jesus Knows!

II. Jesus was troubled 33b

Mary was overcome with sorrow and she wept uncontrollably. When Jesus saw the tears of Mary and the wailing of the Jews He was deeply moved in spirit. The term “He was deeply moved” is the Greek verb embrimaomai, it means to feel strongly, to have an intense feeling of concern. Jesus was flooded with emotions! Again we see that He was concerned for His friends.

I have often heard the phrase “It’s not what you know but who you know that counts.” It’s good to have friends in high places!

Dwight Morrow, the father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once held a dinner party to which Calvin Coolidge had been invited. After Coolidge left, Morrow told the remaining guests that Coolidge would make a good president. The others disagreed. They felt Coolidge was too quiet, that he lacked color and personality. No one would like him, they said.

Anne, then six, spoke up: “I like him,” she said. Then she displayed a finger with a small bandage around it. “He was the only one at the party who asked about my sore finger.” “And that’s why he would make a good president,” added Morrow.

A good president is genuinely concerned about his people. But Mary was as the foot of someone much greater than a political leader, the God of all creation and the Savior of our souls! Jesus knew Mary’s suffering and He has firsthand knowledge of your sufferings and He cares about what you are going through too.

I like to take that phrase a little further. “its not what you know or who you know but it is who knows you that is important!” The Deliverer of this world knows you, he has the hairs of your head counted and will come to your rescue!

Jesus was deeply moved at what He saw but the bible tells us that He was also troubled. Troubled is the Greek verb tarassō it means to be stirred up or to cause great distress. It is literally the idea to snort with anger like a horse.

Jesus didn't literally snort like a horse but He felt the emotions of anger and indignation. He wasn't mad at Mary because she was crying or even because they questioned His love “stating if you had only been here.” He was angered and He hurt because He saw firsthand the results of sin, the death and the hurt that it causes.

Jesus has firsthand experience with sin and death. He entered into this world the sinless perfection of God and became sin for us. He experienced firsthand the death of His earthly father (Joseph), friends, and many whom He loved.

Jesus knows what it’s like to face death, He died for the sins of this world. Jesus has experienced our experiences, He knows what we are going through and He is concerned and troubled over it.

Jesus Knows!

III. Jesus Wept 35

This is the shortest verse in the Bible.

I had a friend in Clanton Alabama, his wife was my Sunday School Teacher. One day while on a couples retreat our class was talking about Scripture memorization. Each of us were asked to memorize a verse of our choosing from Bible then later we would have to recite it in front of everyone. When it came Tim’s time to recite his verse, He said “Jesus Wept” then burst into laughter.

This may be the shortest verse in the Bible, yet the deepest verse in Scripture. The Greek verb wept is not the same used is verse 33. This is the verb dakruō. It means to tear up in the eye. It means a tear, as Mary sobbed uncontrollably Jesus wept silently with her.

I am convinced that Jesus wept because of the hurt and suffering His creation experienced. We see in His tears the tragedy of sin but also the glory of heaven. Perhaps Jesus was weeping for Lazarus, as well as with the sisters, because He knew He was calling His friend from heaven and back into a wicked world where he would one day have to die again. Jesus had come down from heaven; He knew what Lazarus was leaving behind.

I can’t think of another verse that better shows the humanity of Jesus. He felt all the emotions of life.

Jesus knows! He has entered into all of our experiences and knows how we feel. In fact, as the perfect God-Man, Jesus experienced these things in a deeper way than we do. His tears assure us of His sympathy; He is indeed the One Isaiah prophesied of; Is. 53:3 A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.”

Jesus knows!

Application: Today I want you to understand that Jesus knows what you are going through and He sympathizes with you.

The Gospel of John teaches us that Jesus is the Lord God who came in flesh in order to save the world from its sin. But in our time of hurt, we must not over look the fact that Jesus is our High Priest who ministers to us in our weakness.

Heb. 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we hurt, Jesus knows but He also wants to help. But we must draw near to Him. Mary of Bethany is my favorite character in all of Scripture. Mary unlocks for us the secret to Jesus ministering to our souls. Mary is mentioned only 3 times in the Bible and each time we see her in the exact same position.

John 11:32 “Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.””

John 12:3 “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

Luke 10:38-42 “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.””

Conclusion: Jesus knows but you must choose the good part, draw near to the throne of Grace, come to the feet of Jesus.