Who was it that wept?

That
the children 'of men should
frequentlybe in tears, is nothing
strange: this world is a place of
sin, and therefore it is no
wonder that it is aJso a place of
weeping. Sin and sorrow must
be compariions. Butwhat shall
we say when we read that Jesus
wept? Was it not strange that he,
who was "holy, harmless,
undefiled, and separate from
sinners," should be in tears?
How astonishing that he, who is
truly God, should be capable of
real weeping? Perhaps it was on
this account, that they who
divided the Bible into
verses, placed these two
words by themselves, to
intimate how remarkable
the expression is; and that
in reading, we might not
hastily pass over the
wonderful but that we .
should pause, consider,
admire and adore.
Let me repeat it - "Jesus
wept!" My soul, meditate on
these surprising tears, and let me
contemplate this weeping
Saviour!
Jesus was truly and properly
God and man, in one divine,
mysterious person. And here I
perceive a strong proof of the
important doctrine. His words,
his works, and his very name,
sufficiently demonstrated that he
was possessed of real Godhead.
He had just signified that he
would awake Lazarus from the
sleep of death; arid his weeping
did not proceed from any doubt
of his ability to perform the
miracle. The event showed that
he was able; for he spake and
Lazarus, that was dead, carne
I forth. And when I read that
"J esus wept;" I may equally infer
that he was truly man; that "the
Word became flesh, and dwelt
among us." He submitted to the
frailties of human nature; he was
subject to hunger and thirst, to
weariness and grief; for "in all
these things it behoved him to
be made like unto his brethren."
'Jesus wept," was "a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with
grief." While some will admit
orily the humanity ofjesus, let
me not be ashamed to believe in
his nature. How can
anyone deny his divinity? Did
he not at the grave of Lazarus
raise the dead as well as weep?
As a man he was capable of
weeping, of suffering, and dying,
- as God, he could merit and
save men from sin, from misery,
and from death. God forbid then
that I should ever be ashamed to
glory in the cross of Christ!
"Jesus wept:" and was it not
the tear of sympathy he shed?
When he saw Mary weeping,
and the Jews also weeping which
came with her, "he groaned in
the spirit and was troubled." On
some other occasions he had
forbidden weeping for the dead.
He had said, "Why make ye this
ado and weep?" I do not find
that Jesus wept when he first
said, "Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth" - nor when Martha met
28 t THE COUNSEL of Chalcedon March/April, 1997
I him - not when Mary came to
him; but afterwards, when he
saw the tears of Mary, and her
sympathizing friends, who carne
to comfort them concerning
their brother, then he
sympathized with them, and
mingled his groans and troubles
with theirs. When they asked
him to. corne and see the place
where Lazarus was laid, then he
wept. Thus did he "weep with
them that wept." Thus has he
recOIt\Illended, byhis own
example, that tender precept. He
was, indeed, "touched with the
feeling of our infirmities." He
bore a part of the burden
which these two
affectionate sisters felt in
the death of their brother.
May I, may all who love
his name, possess the like
disposition! Then should
we "bear one another's
burdens," and imitate the
example, as well as "fulfill the
law ofiChrist."
"Jesus wept:" and was it not
the tear of tenderest friendship
for Lazarus? "Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth." Who therefore can
say, that the New Testament
contains nothing on the subject
of friendship? The divine
Redeemer has charged his
disciples to love one another. By
his own example he has
sanctified the soft endearments
of friendship; and in the beloved
apostle, and in his friend
Lazarus, he has fastened, as it
were, its tender ties with his
own hand. Bethany was a place
in the neighbourhood of
Jerusalem, to which Jesus might
retire with great conveniency.
When he was despised and
rejected by others, he was sure
of a welcome reception at the
house of Mary and her sister
Martha. Happy were the little
family in receiving such a guest!
Happy indeed! for "Jesus loved
Martha, and her sister, and
Lazarus." Was it therefore
strange if Jesus wept for Lazarus?
If he was capable of tears, was
not this an occasion to
them forth? He wept, as a man
may weep for a departed friend;
and therefore even the Jews
observed, "Behold, how he loved
him!" We may imitate the
example of Jesus, and be grieved
when our friends die. We
his very tears the water of life.
He wept and died for sinners,
and his blood cleanseth from all
sin.
'Jesus wept:" and let me
recollect the scene that was then
before him. A grave, the awful
consequence of sin, was in his
view. The grave has opened its
mouth, and seems to say, Behold
the cursed effects of
transgression. "In the day thou
eatest thereof, thou shalt surely
die." The people of God have
seen the evil of sin in some
degree, and have been affected
with it' but they do not, they
strong crying and tears," in the
discharge of his mediatorial
work. Was it not on account of
the cursed nature of sin that
Jesus wept? In the same channel
may all our sorrows run! Then
shall it be a "godly sorrow which
worketh repentance unto
salvation, not to be repented of."
'Jesus wept:" and let me
admire his infinite
condescension! How amazing is
his love! The Lord of glOIY
becomes a man, and, submits to
a capacity of weeping! He, who
inhabits eternity, condescends to
dwell among "skulls, and
may discover the marks of
our affection, but then our
tears should flow in
moderation. The tears which
Jesus let fall on this occasion
were not mixed with any
hard thoughts of divine
Providence. His grief was
not excessive. Never were
thieJove:. of '.
pe 'toform
:,::,,:13hi#;'judementi that, ' if .
' bet/lea fbrLe, 'weehoWd
.,. t! , " : ,', ' ::. ,:,, :: . . ," ,: : , ':, " '",, .
monuments, and worms;"
nay, even he himself
becomes "a worm and no
man. " He is despised and ,
rejected; he is forsaken,
shamefully treated, falsely
accused, condemned, and
ignominiously crucified!
Why? How could Lhis .
possibly be? The Lord of
there such tears as these. They
were like the clearest water in
the most transparent vessel,
which, however troubled by
being shaken, still remains clear.
No emotion of sin ever
disturbed the sacred affections of
his soul. But, alas! what have our
tears been. How have they been
mixed with the defilement of
unbelief and impatience! How
often have the given an unhappy
tincture to our sorrows! We
have been troubled, and our
hearts have been overcharged
with the turbid waters of
. discontent and sin. Our tears
need to be washed in the
fountain opened for sin and
uncleanness. It is well for us that
Jesus wept. I had almost called
, ' :Uveunto him?" ,',
cannot, in this world, have a
sufficiently comprehensive view
of all its defonnity and horrid
nature. But Jesus could view it
exactly as it is. His all-
comprehending mind knew its
height and depth; and as a man,
when he saw its effects in the
death of Lazarus, when he saw
the place where he himself was
shortly to be laid" he wept. He
foresaw the destruction that
awaited impenitent Jerusalem;
he "beheld the city, and wept
over it." We know that, in the
view of approaching sufferings,
he was "exceedingly sorrowful;"
and we know because an apostle
has infonned us, that, "in the
days of his flesh, he offered up
prayers and supplications, with
glory weep and die! Yes, 0 my
soul, he wept and died for
sinners - for thee. He became a
man of sorrows, that we might
not weep for ever. He died, that
"whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have
everlasting life." "Behold," may '
we well exclaim, "how he loved
us!" Were there ever sorrows
and love like these? 0 what
strong cords are these to bind
our souls to love and to
obedience! Should not this love
of Christ constrain us to form
this judgment, that, if he died
for us, we should live unto him?
"OJ for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 32
March/April, 1997 THE COUNSEL of Cbalcedon , '29
And all hannonious human tongues
The Saviour's praises speak."
'Jesus wept" but it was in the
way to glory. There was a joy set .
before him; and therefore was he
willing to weep, to endure the
cross, despising the shame; and
he is now set down at the right
hand of the throne of God. Thus
should we be "looking unto
Jesus," as our glorious example!
In this world we must expect
occasions of sorrow: but it is
well for us that our tribulations
are in the way to an heavenly
kingdom. And is not that the
blessed end of our journey?
"They that sow in tears shall
reap in joy." They are conformed
to Jesus; who waS intimate with
grief; and hereafter they shall be
with him in glory. This is the
order of these things: "Before
honour is humility." Afflictions
and sorrows are the royal way to
heaven.
'Jesus wept," when he was on
earth; and he has still the same
affection for his people. When
he went to heaven, he did not
leave behind him his heart of
tenderness. He is now at the
Father's right hand, as our
loving Friend, and our gracious
Advocate. There he pleads our
cause: "For we have not an High
Priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our
infirmities; he is full of
compassion. What
encouragement is this to
approach the heavenly throne!
"Let us, therefore," as the apostle
exhorts us, "come boldly to a
throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need."
Unto him therefore that wept,
and loved, .and died, and now
lives to intercede for his dear
. family in heaven, be ascribed the
kingdom, 'the power and the .
glory. Arne.!).. Q ,
Christ the Friend of Sinners.
One there is, above all others
Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly,free, ahd knows no ehd.
Which of all our friends, to save us,
Could or would have shed his blood?
But this Saviour died to have us
Reconciled in him to God.
. When he lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was his name;
Now above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same.
Oljor grace our hearts to soften;
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
. . We, alaslJorget too often,
What a Friend we have above.
32 THE COUNSEL of ChalcedllD MarcblApril, 1997
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