John 11:35-36

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  "Where have you laid him?" he asked.

"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

 

 

A kind and thoughtful person gave me several boxes of Kleenex for the desk in the Pastor’s Study.  It wasn’t because I have this tendency to sneeze due to allergies.  Those Kleenex are for members and guests who visit in the study.  It is because once in a while, people cry.  They weep real tears at different times for different reasons.

 

What are some of the reasons you cry?  When you get hurt, the pain makes you cry real tears.  Sometimes you cry when you are frightened or afraid of something.  Sometimes you cry when you are lonely.  Sometimes you cry when you are sad.  Sometimes you cry when you are grieving the loss of someone or something that is dear to you.  Sometimes you cry when you are angry.  Sometimes you cry when you are happy.  Sometimes you cry when you remember certain things and people, even good things.

 

In today’s passage, we have the shortest verse in The Bible.  “Jesus wept.”  It is followed by the response of those who witnessed this as they said, “See how he loved him!”  At once what comes to our minds is the same thing that came to the minds of those at Lazarus’ grave that day.  Jesus was grieving the death of a loved one.

 

But wait.  Jesus knew that Lazarus was very ill, near death, yet did not come to him at that time as he delayed his journey to Bethany.  Mary and Martha and the disciples were convinced that Jesus would be able to restore Lazarus’ health if Jesus would come right away.  Now many were grieving because death does sadden us.  We do not want to see our loved ones depart from our presence in this life.  We also see the disappointment in Mary’s words, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Martha had just spoken those same words minutes before when she greeted Jesus.

 

Jesus wept out of mourning, but it was a different mourning than what we experience at the death of a loved one or something sad happening in our lives.  Jesus wept out of mourning for the helpless and lost condition the people were in.  They could not understand overcoming death and how immediate in our sense of time this could occur. 

 

When Jesus spoke to Martha, she confessed her faith in the resurrection at the last day.  But Martha did not understand new life that was going to happen in just a few moments.  That is what Jesus wept about.  John writes two times in this account that Jesus was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  He was deeply moved and troubled about the faith of those he loved including Mary, Martha, his disciples, and the people gathered there.  He was deeply moved and troubled about all people who would hear his name and about the miracle he was about to perform.  He was deeply moved and troubled that people would miss the whole point of his coming to earth, to win the victory over death not just this instance with Lazarus, but for all times.

 

Today/tonight, we have just read the account of the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus was deeply troubled that night too.  He wept in the garden that night also.  He was moved and deeply troubled throughout his ordeal as he prayed to God his father about what he was about to do.  Jesus was about to give up his life, to suffer the pains of hell as his father would forsake him, leave him alone to face the wrath of Satan on your behalf. 

 

Jesus wept many times in his life on earth.  Jesus had compassion when someone’s child was ill, a blind man could not see, a lame man could not walk.  Countless miracles of healing are noted with the actual details of only a few recorded.  He looked out on the crowds who were following him and “had compassion on them.”  Jesus wept for his people every day as he saw them then and sees you and me today wandering as sheep that need a shepherd. 

 

Jesus wept as he was lifted up on the cross with nails that pierced his hands and feet and a crown of thorns that pierced his brow.  Jesus wept as he looked at those around who did not have a clue as to what was taking place.  He cried out for forgiveness for them because they did not know what they were doing.  They were fulfilling God’s plan of salvation for them at that time, and for all people of all time. 

 

Jesus wept because one man next to him on the cross continued to ridicule him and missed the point of the whole event.  Jesus wept because another man next to him on the cross repented and trusted him for forgiveness and everlasting life that he was given that very day.  Jesus wept because his disciples and those who followed him were frightened, not knowing what great joy they were going to have in just a few short days.  Jesus wept because you and I continue to live in sin, no matter how hard we try not to.  Jesus wept because he was at that time restoring you to the joys of his salvation, so you would never have to weep again in your life knowing that his suffering and death are so that you never need to fear death.  In Jesus’ blood and righteousness you know that death trusting in him is not an end but is the doorway to eternal life.

 

A woman who knew how completely her sins were forgiven washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.  Today, you and I too can weep with the same sorrow over sins and joy in the greatness of forgiveness that we too receive in Jesus’ suffering and death.

 

As Jesus wept in the Garden, note that God sent angels to tend to him.  God will never leave you alone either, always guarding and protecting you in faith in his undying love in Jesus Christ so you too will walk victoriously from the grave, shedding the shroud of death to live eternally with him. 

 

About those Kleenex in the Pastor’s Study; yes, they do catch the tears of sorrow and sadness.  But they do no not catch tears of despair and hopelessness.  They catch tears of relief, joy and gladness from hearts restored by the love of Christ.      Amen.