Similarly, on another occasion, "Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed the sick." (Matthew 14:14) In fact, in His Word, there are no shortage of examples of our Lord's heart being moved because of our circumstance. Thus, I wondered what circumstances would be necessary in order for our Lord God and Saviour Jesus -- the prophesied Christ -- to weep for us. I already knew the smallest verse in the Bible (at least the smallest verse to my knowledge) was "Jesus wept." (John 11:35)
I was also aware that in this latter example, a certain man named Lazarus had become deathly sick. His sisters Mary (who you may remember had anointed the Lord with ointment) and Martha had sent Jesus a message to inform Him of their brother's condition. When Jesus heard the news about Lazarus, He told those around Him at the time that "this sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:1-6)
Of course, there is much more to the tale of Lazarus. After being dead for four days already, Jesus tells him to come out from the grave and He did. It should have been the miracle of all time. The people who witnessed Lazarus being raised from the dead should have been excited. All of them. And yes, some were but others in the crowd went back to tell the scribes and Pharisees what all Jesus had done.
At the end of the day, the miraculous revival of Lazarus being raised from the dead -- four days after he died -- failed to impress everyone that watched. Note that some of these were Jews who had originally come to comfort Mary and Martha in their loss, and yet, when that was no longer an issue (because Lazarus was alive), their hearts were still found wanting.
Of course, there is much more to the tale of Lazarus. After being dead for four days already, Jesus tells him to come out from the grave and He did. It should have been the miracle of all time. The people who witnessed Lazarus being raised from the dead should have been excited. All of them. And yes, some were but others in the crowd went back to tell the scribes and Pharisees what all Jesus had done.
At the end of the day, the miraculous revival of Lazarus being raised from the dead -- four days after he died -- failed to impress everyone that watched. Note that some of these were Jews who had originally come to comfort Mary and Martha in their loss, and yet, when that was no longer an issue (because Lazarus was alive), their hearts were still found wanting.
As I pondered this miraculous event further, I realized that the words used here -- "Jesus wept" and "Jesus had compassion on the multitudes" were wholly insufficient to explain why the same God who created us in the very beginning would love us enough to shed His precious holy blood on a cross for you and I. But He did so because He loved us beyond measure.
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid for the LORD God is my strength and my song. He also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12:2-3)
In fact, Jesus said, "Whoever believes in Me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38)
All we have to do is believe in Jesus, and allow Him to clothe us in His righteousness -- through His Word. Yes, the gospel is that simple and yet, sadly, like the Jews in Jesus' day, there are those who would rather do anything else but accept His free gift of salvation.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (Romans 3-23-25)
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (Romans 3-23-25)
When I think of the ultimate price that He paid for our sins, I understand now why Jesus wept. He groaned within Himself because of our inability (as His beloved creation) to reach out and touch the hem of His garment -- like the woman with the issue of blood. In fact, until we are willing to believe, we are like herds of sheep wandering aimlessly without a shepherd. Lost without any understanding that the Giver of Life wants to give us life everlasting.
And all we have to do is "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, for the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world ... [and look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:10-14)
Jesus told those Jews which believed on Him, "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:30-32)
And all we have to do is "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, for the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world ... [and look] for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:10-14)
Jesus told those Jews which believed on Him, "If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:30-32)
These same promises remain true today. Ask Jesus into your heart. Seek His righteousness by reading His Word daily so that you too shall know the truth that will make you free. Stand in His offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment