Biblical records show that Jesus wept or cried on some occasions. The events that culminated in Jesus’ weeping or crying are lessons for all of us to learn for our spiritual growth. We want to discuss three occasions when Jesus wept by biblical records:
Jesus wept over Jerusalem
In Luke 19: 41-44: As he (Jesus) came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes… because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God”.
The people did not observe the date of God’s visitation and as to its nature when we miss God’s visitation we also miss his blessings. God’s visitation has no substitute and the time is unknown except by God’s gift of divine knowledge. Jesus knew God’s visitation to the city of Jerusalem (Bethphage and Bethany near Mount Olives)was through him so he wept when the people were not ready but were blinded by worldliness.
The Pharisees asked Jesus to stop those praising God joyfully because they shouted in Luke 19: 38, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Jesus wept when they frustrated God’s people from praising him for Christ knew their reward. Jesus replied in Luke 19: 40, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Jesus will always be praised by his creation even if we fail to praise him. Our failure cannot change his authority. Jesus weeps when we disrupt his praise and glory from genuine hearts. God’s people must be alert in expectation of his unannounced visit. Are we ready?
Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb
At Lazarus’ tomb, Mary said to Jesus in John 11: 32-35 “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep.
Jesus did not weep because Lazarus had died though the people thought so. Jesus wept because of the unbelief of Mary and the Jews. They had walked closely with Jesus yet in truth, did not know him. This saddened Jesus to weep. Unbelief makes Jesus weep because it is counted as unrighteousness. Unbelief about Jesus’ words is a sin. Some of us have walked with Jesus for long yet in times of challenges we doubt his words and assurances. Jesus then will weep with sore disappointment.
Jesus was therefore right when he said in Matthew 17: 17, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? In Christ, there is no death but sleep, hence we do not weep when people are sleeping. Jesus said of a little girl who was presumed dead in Matthew 9: 24; Mark 5: 39; Luke 8: 52, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” Jesus said in Revelation 1: 18 I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
The holder of the keys to life and death did not weep over the dead but rather of the unbelief, doubt and confused mind about his word and his authority as Mary and the Jews did. Do we cause Jesus to weep when we have walked with him long enough? Do we have our judgment clouded during adversity? The sin of doubt and unbelief and unstable mind in crises displease God.
Jesus cried on the cross
Jesus cried loudly on the cross in Matthew 27: 46; Mark 15: 34 saying, “Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani” that is “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Hither to, God had answered all Jesus’ payers. Jesus’ cry on the cross showed that God rejected Jesus because of our sin on him except for repentance. Psalms 66: 18 said if I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
On the cross, Jesus did not ask for repentance because repentance is an individual affair and Jesus knew no sin. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5: 21 say for our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. If God forsook Jesus because of our sins which weighed heavily on him, he will equally forsake us at his judgment seat if we do not repent. Jesus wept on the cross to show that the end of sin will be punishment, desertion and weeping. Hebrews 10: 31 say it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Jesus will however hear us if we repent early enough before our death or his second coming, be washed in his blood and clothed in righteousness. Jesus cried because he knew how sinners would be treated on the last day. Do we want God to desert us at judgment? For how long will we remain stubborn with hardened hearts? Let us be reminded that Pharaoh and many others tried and perished.
We must come to Jesus Christ the Messiah. Are we ready? Paul said in Romans 6: 23 for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus has finished weeping and it is time for us to weep for ourselves. Jesus said in Luke 23: 28 “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and your children.” Weeping reflects a sad event and we must not be the cause of weeping either by Jesus, ourselves or others.
Even tears of joy are predicated on prior fear of failure. If we do not repent, we shall also weep. We must decide now that it is day for the night will soon fall. Jesus says in Revelation 3: 11, I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Revelation 22:12 says See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to pay according to everyone’s work.
Prayer
Dear Lord God Almighty, please let your joy overcome our night of sin and gloom. Help us to know and to prepare for the times of your visitation. Help us to keep unshakable faith in all circumstances as we walk with you. Teach us to weep for ourselves so we may repent in righteousness and live right by your instructions. We pray in the name of Christ Jesus our blessed King, Amen!!
