JESUS WEPT

That Jesus suffered much, there can be no question by any student of the Bible or of history. However, we have only two instances where we are told that He wept. One was at the tomb of His friend Lazarus in John 11:35, and the other when He told what was to happen to Jerusalem and it’s people at the time that it was to be destroyed, in Luke 19:11-44 and chapter 13:34-35.

It has been my privilege to visit both the supposed tomb of Lazarus and Jerusalem, and to meditate upon what brought about the emotion of Christ in both cases. I went down into a tomb in Bethany that at least was similar to the one Lazarus had lain in for four days. It was awesome; much like a cellar with shelves on which bodies were laid. No doubt this was the reason why Jesus called him by name when He said, “Lazarus, come forth!” (John 11-43). It was not the calling to all that are in the graves, as it shall be in the last day when “...all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice and come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28,29 ASV).

But why did Jesus weep? Since He was soon to raise Lazarus from the dead, it was therefore not for the reason that others were weeping, but for the grief that Lazarus’ dying had brought to others. This also was true at His telling of the destruction of Jerusalem, when the armies of Titus of Rome in 70 A.D. encircled that city and brought the suffering that Jesus spoke of in Luke 19:41-44.

God and Jesus, His Son loves us everyone and no doubt weeps over every lost soul! Does He have cause to weep over your soul? Don’t give Him reason for that heartache any longer...come to Him today! Remember John 3:16.

Love you, David V. Fultz