Bible League: Living His Word Jesus wept.— John 11:35 NIV "Jesus wept." It's the shortest verse in the Bible. I picture His weeping different than those mourning the death of Lazarus; I picture Him bursting into tears, a sudden outburst of emotion from deep pain within the heart. On two occasions in the Bible, Jesus weeps. The other is found in Luke 19:41 when Jesus burst into tears, an audible sobbing in another sudden outburst of deep emotion from the heart, as He wept over the city of Jerusalem. A city whose leaders and people have and will continue to reject Him and His words of salvation. On both occasions, Jesus weeps over death. He anticipates the death of His beloved city that will come in A.D. 70, at the hands of Roman Emperor Titus and his soldiers, prophesied in Micah. "Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble" (Micah 3:12). Here in John 11, Jesus is weeping over the grave of Lazarus, knowing that God's creation was never meant to suffer the pain and sting of death. Death was not meant to be part of life, but the fall of man brought it to this world and all in it. I recall years ago when I arrived on east coast from California, having answered the call to plant a new church. As I was driving to work one day, watching the faces of the drivers in the cars going by the other way, I was overwhelmed with the despair and sorrow for how many of them need Jesus in their life. I burst out crying in my car, knowing that many will die in their sin rather than in the grace of God. The good news is that although we see so much death in this life, so much pain, and we are prone to sorrowful and tearful outbursts, our sorrow still has hope attached. It is the hope that comes with abiding in faith and God's love. Paul says, you sorrow not as others who know no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). This is the simple faith believers are to share to the world. There is hope in Jesus Christ. Death is not the end game to life for the professing Christian. There is no tragedy of death to those in Christ. To go to heaven is to live forever in joy and peace. "O death where is your sting? O grave where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-56). Rather than invite us into the sorrow of death, Jesus invites us out of the grave—turn from sin and rejection and come to Him. Come into the saving grace and knowledge of Him. And then He says ,"Go." Go into the world and declare the Good News of life in Christ. Go declare your life of hope and love, your death to sin, and show how you are now living in the new life of grace and peace. Jesus wept. But He rejoices in the life-giving power of the resurrection. As with Lazarus who became a living witness to this life-giving power of Christ, so too, beloved, are you to be witnesses of Christ's resurrection power over death unto eternal life. By Pastor David Massie, Bible League International staff, California Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 132-135 Psalm 132 -- O Lord, remember David and all his affliction, NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 133 -- See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 134 -- Look! Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 135 -- Psalms of Solomon (2Ch 7) NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 8 1 Corinthians 8 -- Take Care with your Freedom in Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.Insight What a contrast between the disciples and the world! The world rejoiced as the disciples wept, but the disciples would see him again (in three days) and rejoice. The world's values are often the opposite of God's values. Challenge This can cause Christians to feel like misfits. But even if life is difficult now, one day we will rejoice. Keep your eye on the future and on God's promises! Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 31:5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.These words have been frequently used by holy men in their hour of departure. We may profitably consider them this evening. The object of the faithful man's solicitude in life and death is not his body or his estate, but his spirit; this is his choice treasure--if this be safe, all is well. What is this mortal state compared with the soul? The believer commits his soul to the hand of his God; it came from him, it is his own, he has aforetime sustained it, he is able to keep it, and it is most fit that he should receive it. All things are safe in Jehovah's hands; what we entrust to the Lord will be secure, both now and in that day of days towards which we are hastening. It is peaceful living, and glorious dying, to repose in the care of heaven. At all times we should commit our all to Jesus' faithful hand; then, though life may hang on a thread, and adversities may multiply as the sands of the sea, our soul shall dwell at ease, and delight itself in quiet resting places. "Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." Redemption is a solid basis for confidence. David had not known Calvary as we have done, but temporal redemption cheered him; and shall not eternal redemption yet more sweetly console us? Past deliverances are strong pleas for present assistance. What the Lord has done he will do again, for he changes not. He is faithful to his promises, and gracious to his saints; he will not turn away from his people. "Though thou slay me I will trust, Praise thee even from the dust, Prove, and tell it as I prove, Thine unutterable love. Thou mayst chasten and correct, But thou never canst neglect; Since the ransom price is paid, On thy love my hope is stay'd." Daily Light on the Daily Path Jonah 1:6 So the captain approached him and said, "How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish."Micah 2:10 "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction. Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. 1 Chronicles 22:19 "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD." Luke 22:46 and said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Luke 21:34 "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; Matthew 25:5 "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. Hebrews 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. Romans 13:11 Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. Mark 13:35,36 "Therefore, be on the alert-- for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning-- • in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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