Jesus wept

Jesus wept

“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

I heard this verse four times yesterday and thought it extremely relevant for the coming week. Some commentaries write that Jesus wept at this point for the state of the fallen world. Others state that He was so moved by the outpouring of emotion for Lazarus. Either way, it shows His humanity. It illustrates that Jesus lived among us as one of us and experienced what we experience. He has sympathy and empathy for us. No other god of any other religion has that claim.

Jesus was a Man of sorrows

Jesus was “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3 NKJV)

Jesus weeps

Once in Jerusalem, Christ weeps over the city, knowing the impending destruction that will occur at the hands of the Romans.

Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44 NKJV (see also Luke 13:34, Matthew 23:37)

Prayer

Father, may our hearts be as burdened for our fallen world as Your heart is. May we daily seek ways to reach the lost, and for ourselves to draw closer to You. Father, we pray for this specific time, Holy Week, as it coincides with a week of Ramadan for hearts and minds to be open to hearing and receiving the gospel. May the unsaved confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord (Romans 10:9).
Lord, have mercy on the people of Ukraine, and let us not grow weary in praying for them. Please move the hearts of the people of Morocco and let many come to know You. We ask all of these things in Jesus’ most precious name. Amen.