Jesus Wept...But Why?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Crying is a part of life, some of us cry moe than others (I cry a lot)
We cry for ourselves and others
We cry when we hurt
We cry when our emotions are stirred
We cry when we see others hurting
Crying is a way we express emotions, guess what Jesus cried. Jesus has emotions that reveal things about him
We are going to look at this weeping in relation to Mary and then in relation to the Jews
Often we hear John 11:35 mentioned because it is the shortest Bible verse in the Bible
After it is mentioned though the question arises, “But why?”
Mary- mentioned by name 3 times in this paragraph
Jews- mentioned by name 3 times in this paragraph
Mary and Jesus
Mary and Jesus
Mary's relationship with Jesus
When Martha tells Mary of Jesus calling her she reveals an important detail, they saw him as their teacher
A teacher in Jewish culture was someone you followed to be shaped into their image by their teaching and lifestyle
The relationship she had with Jesus was not a shallow one, but an intimate one that had great impact on her life
She knew of the power of Jesus and of the wisdom of Jesus
Her life had been impacted and shaped by it
She probably sat in great expectation as Lazarus’s health diminished that Jesus was going to show up and turn things around
Reason #1: Watching our heartache as we don’t understand Him not responding to our cry for help
Application #1: When we don’t understand our circumstances, cling to the promises you do know
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Mary quickly ran to the arms of Jesus in time of trouble
When our worlds fall apart or when a loved one is taken out of our world we all got somewhere we run to
The Jews expected Mary’s place was to weep loudly among the dead
But the dead things of this world is not where she quickly ran when her world fell a part, she ran to Jesus
She ran there because of the depth of the relationship she had with Him
Reason #2: When we run to Him, He shares in the pain with us (Romans 12:15)
When we loose someone and we hurt from the loss, Jesus is there hurting with us
Application #2: Walk with one another in pain.
Help one another stay focused on Jesus
Mary experienced Jesus by spending time at his feet
She was there in the good times
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.
She was there in the bad times
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
No matter the circumstances of the world around her, Jesus sat at the feet of Jesus
How many of us can claim that as the posture we approach Jesus with at all times
Reason #3: Jesus spends time with us
We have to realize Jesus is not a distant God, he is a very close and personal God
The Spirit indwells us
The Word is Jesus
When we sit and read the word, we are sitting at the feet of Jesus
if that is to be our posture in the hard times we must make practice of it in the good times
Scripture shows God involved in creation
And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.”
So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
It is obvious God did not throw us out here and go good look
Jesus weeps because he is involved
Application #3: Build relationships with the saved and lost.
Jews and Jesus
Jews and Jesus
Jews supposed she was going to the tomb, they only saw her pain
They were missing the importance of Jesus in her life. Only thing they understood was the pain in life
Reason #4: The world is full of people who only see pain, and not resurrection
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Application #4: We have a responsibility to seek out the lost
Jews weeping as they come with Mary
Many of the Jews came weeping with Mary were not genuine in their weeping, those who came with her weeping would be angered when her prayer is answered
but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
Reason #5: Rather than accepting Him when encountered many reject and persecute.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Application #5: We will be persecuted for our faith
Knowing this does not make it easy to experience it
It will be painful, but is pain we don't bear alone and it is pain Jesus has experienced
Jews comment on Jesus acknowledging his attributes of love and healing
Reason #6: People are comfortable with Jesus when it comes to love and physical needs met
Application #6: Examine your life
If following Jesus Christ doesn’t cost you anything, it’s because you’ve bought into American Christianity.” -Paul Washer
Do you treat love as God’s main characteristic?
Do you only go to God when you need/want something?
Do you follow God for only how he can benefit you?
