Passionate devotion

Communion

The old covenant of law said “Do this and you shall live”

The songs we have singing declare a new covenant built on Grace and Grace says I have done it for you. The new covenant is entirely an undertaking of God - founded in love, freely given and available to each of us.

As us this meal open to all, who love the Lord, who are seeking more of Him. Have wandered away and wish to return. It is a table that you can come to because God says you may, not because you are strong, or Good or have earned this meal.

You can come to this table because he loved you and gave himself for you and you need his mercy and his grace.

Come and meet the risen Christ, who paid the ultimate cost to seal Gods promise with you.

As we take communion together let us take time to remember Gods commitment, his covenant to us to restore us, who would not be served well by the old covenant, those of us that are not perfect, those of us that fail or are tempted, those of us that recognise that our efforts are not good enough and never can be.

Luke 22:7–20 CSB

7 Then the Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him. 10 “Listen,” he said to them, “when you’ve entered the city, a man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him into the house he enters. 11 Tell the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks you, “Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover with my disciples?” ’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Make the preparations there.” 13 So they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. 14 When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

_____

The shortest verse in the English bible.

Who can tell me what the shortest verse in the english bible is ?

John 11:35 (CSB)

35 Jesus wept.

“Everyone knows that the shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). But is it? In Greek, John 11:35 is ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς [Edakrysen a Iisoús} : three words instead of two (and sixteen characters). There is a two-word verse that is shorter in Greek: 1 Thess. 5:16, Πάντοτε χαίρετε [Pantote chairete], “Rejoice always,” is only fourteen characters. The next verse, 1 Thess. 5:17, is also two words but it contains twenty-two characters: ἀδιαλείπτως προσεύχεσθε [proseucesthe adialeiptos (“Pray unceasingly”). Both of these two-word verses contain imperatives.”

Fortunately for me we speak English not least because, as I have already demonstrated my greek is atrocious, but also because I want to look at this concept of Jesus weeping.

The bible records Jesus crying on three occasions, though I expect from the inference that these verse bring it was a more common event than that..

Empathy/sorrow

The first time is when he travels to the house of Mary and Martha John 11:38-45

John 11:30–45 CSB

30 Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there. 32 As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died!” 33 When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked. “Lord,” they told him, “come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Couldn’t he who opened the blind man’s eyes also have kept this man from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Remove the stone,” Jesus said. Martha, the dead man’s sister, told him, “Lord, there is already a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. 42 I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” 43 After he said this, he shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out bound hand and foot with linen strips and with his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and let him go.” 45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what he did believed in him.

When Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus who had been buried for four days many commentaries will speak about the fact Jesus was so touched by the sorrow sorrow of Martha and Mary that He raised Lazarus from the dead.

And Jesus was clearly empathic to the sorrow felt by Lazarus sisters but it is also clear from the text that jesus was also sorrowful because of the loss of - See how he loved him.

Jesus knew the outcome would be ok and yet he still wept.

How this relates to the loss of a loved one in Christ.

Because we have a faith, because we know the outcome we are still allowed to be sad to, weep, to mourn.

Like jesus we should be moved by the plight of others.

Romans 12:15 CSB

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

Not a cryer - that’s fine. We are neither supposed to manufacture emotion or deny out emotions. What we do need to guard aginst though are two things.

los hombres no lloran (yoran) - men do not cry - see my spanish is as bad as my koine greek.

Strong people do not cry - Expand

2 becoming so hardened that we no longer feel for others. - EXPAND

John 11 teaches us that Jesus - man of men, cried when moved through sorrow and through empathy with the plight of others.

As we look at the world we need to look through Jesus’ eyes

Psalm 119:18 CSB

18 Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.

but we also need to see the dark places, the hidden things and we need to see and react as Jesus would do.

Compassion

The next time we hear of jesus weeping is in luke 19

The event take place after the events of Palm Sunday which I am pretty certain we will look at next week.

Luke 19:41–43 CSB

41 As he approached and saw the city, he wept for it, 42 saying, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side.

Only Luke recorded this lament by Jesus. In contrast to the great joy of the crowd, the man on the donkey began to cry at the sight of the city.

He wept then because He knew that the people did not understand about the Kingdom of God, and men, women and children were going to continue to suffer.

The name of the city has “peace” as part of its meaning (Hebrews 7:2), but the people of the city did not know what would bring them peace. The “city of peace” was blind to the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). If the people had known what was truly happening and had recognised it for what it was, they could have found peace. But the Jewish leaders had rejected their Messiah (19:39, 47); they had refused God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ when they were visited by God himself. Now the truth would be hidden, and soon their nation would suffer.

Jesus knew that, ultimately, on Maundy Thursday the people would turn him over to the Roman government to be crucified and the Path of the Jews of Jerusalem was set for disaster.

Jesus prophesies in Luke 21:21-24

Luke 21:21–24 CSB

21 Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, 22 because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written. 23 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

About forty years after Jesus said these words, they came true. In A.D. 66, the Jews revolted against Roman control. Three years later Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, was sent to crush the rebellion. Six hundred thousand Jews were killed during Titus’s onslaught. This would occur as judgment because though some of the people believed (such as the disciples and other faithful followers), most had rejected the opportunity God offered them. But God did not turn away from the Jewish people who obeyed him. He continues to offer salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

Jesus wept for the city of of Compassion. Jesus knew what was to happen both in the physical - the destruction of Jerusalem, and in the spiritual - the rejection of the messiah, Gods son.

We are called to view those around us with compassion.

We need to see the physical and the spiritual realities of what is within the world.

Passion

The last time He wept was when He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His betrayal. He praying that He would be strong enough to undertake the challenge He had in front of Him .

Luke 22:39–46 CSB

39 He went out and made his way as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.”

We don’t read of him crying in the Gospels though it is clear that his prayer was fervent and exhausting.

we need to go to the book of Hebrews where that night in the garden is recounted.

Hebrews 5:7 (CSB)

7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

Jesus did not pussyfoot around with his prayers.

Jesus prayed with passions.

Psalm 34:15–18 CSB

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry for help. 16 The face of the Lord is set against those who do what is evil, to remove all memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.

2 Chronicles 7:14 CSB

14 and my people, who bear my name, humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Conclusion

We hear of Jesus crying three times and there is a common theme through these three instances when Jesus wept – His love of the people

Jesus weeps in sorrow because of the suffering of the people - physical and spiritual, sorrow that they did not understand about the Kingdom of God.

Jesus weeps in compassion for all people to be saved. 1 TIM. 2:4

1 Timothy 2:1–4 CSB

1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They did not understand that the eternal life one finds through the resurrection of Jesus is the peace of the Kingdom of God.

The people of Israel rejected Him. The same is true today, we reject Him when we don’t follow His teachings. Yet, Jesus wept for us

for you and me,

each one of us.

In spite of our rejection of Him, Jesus still cares for all of us. He has compassion

The events of Holy Week tell us that we are still saved by his crucifixion and resurrection.

That He had promised us

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) this is based on God’s compassion for an imperfect people made perfect in Christ.

Finaly Jesus weeps in passion.

1 Timothy 2:5–6 CSB

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

Echoed in

Romans 8:34 CSB

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

I suspect that in this position of intercession Jesus has wept for many of us as he has advocated on our behalves with passion.

So as we move through towards Holy week a week of celebration, betrayal, death and resurrection, let us remember this assurance from God:

Isaiah 41:10 CSB

10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.

and the ending of the verse in romans

Romans 8:34–35 CSB

34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. 35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

It is our of this confidence we should have empathy with those in distress,

Jesus was not afraid to shed a tear or two and maybe we need to be brought to tears by the world around us.

When we see the world as God sees it we should express compassion and bring aid and prayer with passion.

-----