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3/21 Reading Portions: Exodus 32; John 11; Proverbs 8; Ephesians 1
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
SORROW
Emotions are not sin. We sin when we allow our emotions to distract us from the truth, or when we make decisions based upon our emotions apart from the truth. To deny emotions is wrong and just as sinful. Many men attempt to deceive themselves, and possibly others, by touting such nonsense as, “I’m just not an emotional person.” If I call you a liar for such argle-bargle, we’ll see some emotion— anger. Jesus, incarnate God, and in whose image and likeness we are made, displayed emotions. Are we silly enough to oppose the truth of Scripture? The Lord Jesus had genuine love for Lazarus and genuine, heart-felt sorrow over the death of His friend. Jesus suffered many mixed emotions at the tomb. It says He was “deeply moved again” or as the KJV translates the thirty-eighth verse, “again groaning in himself.” In other words, by the Greek words used here, Jesus felt indignation, frustration, and He sighed with sorrow. Was Jesus indignant and frustrated over those at the tomb who didn’t believe? Hardly. Jesus knew the wretchedness of fallen man’s heart (John 2:24-25); and that truth must be revealed by His heavenly Father to us, just as He told His disciples (Matt 11:27; 16:17). What, then, was Jesus sorrowful about? The death of His friend. Jesus Christ is the Lord of light and life. Death is His enemy (1 Cor 15:26). Certainly, Jesus knew He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead; yet death is a constant reminder of sin’s sting. Death came into the world through one man’s disobedience. Every sin is an affront to the glory and goodness of a holy God. My attitude toward sin and death is sometimes casual indifference. When the Holy Spirit reveals to me the grief of Christ over sin and death, I am ashamed. I repent. I call out to the heavenly Father to make me real like His Son, to make me as holy as He can make a sinner saved by grace. And our heavenly Father honors that prayer. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Until Christ comes, death still reigns
And ends the life of man;
Lord, make me sorrow o’er death’s pain
As only Your truth can.