07/12/2024
โJesus wept.โ (John 11:35)
If you could only memorize one verse in the Bible, memorize this one. First, itโs the shortest verse so you shouldnโt have trouble remembering it, but second, there is so much contained in it that you get almost all of the rest of Scripture.
That sounds like a bit of a stretch until you consider the events surrounding these two words, this moment of great anger, passion, sorrow, and love. Jesus experienced every emotion that we do, and maybe at a different and much more intense level because he wasnโt influenced by the deadening effects of sin and the distance from his true feelings that it causes us.
He faced doubt of his identity and abilities from his closest friends, who should have known him better. He struggled with everything that the gravesite represented; sickness and death were so unnecessary, if only Adam and Eve had been obedient. His heart was touched by the mourning, the terrible sadness of all those gathered for the one who had been buried. He shared in the loss. He was angry, and he weptโtwo seemingly divergent expressions coming from the same place deep within him.
He never shed tears for himself, even as he was being beaten and scourged, or as he was hanging naked to the ridicule of all mankind. Maybe it was times like this, seeing such devastation and heartache, that firmed his resolve to stay on the cross, although โhe could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him freeโ as the old song goes. He could have, but he didnโt. He demonstrated a love so great that we can only speculate on how he was able to do it. But we get the benefit, we get the result of his sacrifice, the gift of salvation. wept. John 11:35. Hallelujah!
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