JESUS WEPT
Monday – July 29, 2019, Tamuz 26, 5779
Greetings precious people of God and welcome back to this powerful and empowering Bible Study of the Book of John. If you are reading this on Facebook please take a moment and hit the “love” and “share” buttons to expand the reach of this Ministry. Thank you for valuing the Word of God. The featured pictures this week are various artist depictions of the Ministry of Jesus and as usual on Friday is a picture of Donna and me. Now, let’s turn our attention to our Bible Study by reading the primary text aloud.
John 11:35-39 (KJV)
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
It is Monday again, trust your weekend and Sabbath were relaxing and productive for the Kingdom of God. Our God is so good. We have been studying the rather lengthy passage in the Book of John which delineates the illness and the raising of Lazarus from the dead and I will continue today. We will pick up this testimony, this account, with Jesus at the gravesite of Lazarus. I would suggest that you go back and reread the teachings from last week or read them for the first time so that we are all on the same page as we pick up today. As we read our text above, we find Jesus weeping. Is Jesus weeping because He has suffered a loss and the situation is hopeless? He is weeping due to the unbelief present. Mary and the Jews (not Martha) are weeping for they do not have faith that Jesus can or will raise Lazarus from the dead. On the other hand, Martha had expressed her faith saying that whatever Jesus asked God He would be given (Verse 22). Jesus is weeping due to the unbelief surrounding Him in general and more specifically in Mary whom He loves and is His friend. I am talking about agape (God’s love) love for Mary not some romantic issue.
As we move forward the gathered Jews are saying that Jesus is crying because of how Jesus loved Lazarus so much. This behavior, conversation, demonstrates no expectation or faith for a miracle. He truly loved and saw Lazarus as a friend but that is not the reason for the tears. Jesus knows a wonderful miracle is moments away, a beloved brother will be restored to his sisters, and the goodness (glory) of God will be on full display. Do you suppose that the Father, and Jesus weep over us due to our unbelief? My response is to say with all my heart, Lord forgive my unbelief and I purpose right now to be more diligent in your Word to build my faith. I understand that faith comes but one way and it is the starting point, the foundation, of pleasing you.
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
I for one do not want my Heavenly Father or my Lord and Savior crying over me, I want them smiling and singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (AMP)
17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.
As we push further into our text, we find some of the Jews voicing their unbelief in Jesus (they have said this before).
John 11:37 (KJV)
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
This not only reflects their choice not to believe but is perhaps geared to increase unbelief in those gathered. They also are accusing Him of not being on time and therefore no good result is at hand, only loss. Have we found ourselves in this place, speaking these or very similar words? Perhaps we even added that His ways are not ours and are beyond our understanding. It is all wickedness.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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