Jesus Wept - John 11:34,35
Jesus wept in the face of death, revealing His sympathy and compassion, and offering hope of eternal life and reunion with loved ones.
Bernard Fell preaches on the profound compassion and empathy of Jesus as seen in the shortest verse in the Bible, 'Jesus wept,' highlighting how even though Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He still deeply felt the pain and sorrow of those mourning. Through Jesus' tears, we see His genuine care for humanity, His understanding of the brokenness caused by sin and death, and His ultimate power over the grave to bring hope and restoration.
Text
Where have ye laid him?
They said unto Him
Lord, come and see.
Jesus wept.
John 11:34,35
Jesus comes, a Friend unfailing,
To a stone-sealed, cheerless cave,
With deep comfort for the mourners
Standing by a brother's grave.
"Jesus wept". O see reflected
In that lovely, tear-stained face,
Sympathy and kind compassion
Mingled with His love and grace.
Why that sight of deepest mourning,
When from that dark cavern bed,
With the joy of sweet reunion,
He would shortly raise the dead?
Ah, affliction like a ploughshare
Cut deep furrows in His soul;
Sin and death in cruel rampage
He beheld while ages roll.
Broken hearts of untold millions,
Homes now emptied of their best:
Sensitive to others' sorrows,
Jesus mourned, and Jesus wept.
Think not, ye who grieve, of loved ones
Buried in the chilly ground;
Plucked as lilies from life's garden,
Rich in glory they abound.
Taken from this world's cold winter-
For the Gard'ner's will is best-
By His tender hand transplanted
In the sunny bowers of rest.
Jesus speaks! the grave's great Spoiler!
At His call the dead arise;
In the coming blest reunion
He will wipe all tear-filled eyes.
Sermon Outline
- Jesus' Emotional Response
- The Depth of Jesus' Sorrow
- The Hope of Reunion
- The Promise of Eternal Life
- The Power of Jesus' Call
- The dead arise at His call
- Tears wiped from eyes in the coming reunion
Key Quotes
“Jesus wept.” — Bernard Fell
“Sin and death in cruel rampage He beheld while ages roll.” — Bernard Fell
“He will wipe all tear-filled eyes.” — Bernard Fell
Application Points
- We can trust that God's plan is perfect, even in the midst of suffering and loss.
- Jesus is moved by our sorrow and is sensitive to our pain.
- We have hope of eternal life and reunion with loved ones who have passed away.