Does Jesus Weep Today?

By Dale Decker In In Remembrance On February 14, 2016

The shortest verse in the Bible is found in John 11:35—“Jesus wept”.  The question that one must ask is why did Jesus weep? Jesus had been told that Lazarus, whom He loved, vs. 5 that he had died.  However, we should note that Jesus said in vs. 25 “He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  26 “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”  Jesus was pointing out that all must die a physical death but no one has to die a spiritual death.  So why did Jesus weep for Lazarus.  After reading John 11 we can see that it shows the Lord Jesus was a friend, a tender friend, and evinces his character as a man.  We have here an instance of the tenderness of the character of Jesus. The same Savior wept over Jerusalem, and felt deeply for poor dying sinners.  In Lk. 19:41 we read: “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.”  Jesus is showing His compassion for the guilty city of Jerusalem, and His strong sense of the evils that were about to come upon it. As He entered the city He passed over the Mount of Olives.  From that mountain there was a full and magnificent view of the city.  The view of the splendid capital–the knowledge of its crimes– the remembrance of the mercies of God toward it– the certainty that it might have been spared if it had received the prophets and Himself–the knowledge that it was about to put their long-expected Messiah to death.  For that to be given up to utter desolation affected His heart, and the triumphant King and Lord of Zion wept!

We never read that Jesus laughed, but we often find Him in tears.  In Matthew 14 we read that John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod.  There is no doubt that Jesus wept for vs. 13 tells us that “He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself.”  Obviously Jesus loved John and while the scriptures do not say that he wept, we can only imagine His desire to be alone at this time of mourning.  We also have to believe that Jesus wept on two occasions in His relationship with Peter.  In Matthew 14: 28-31, Peter saw Jesus and said “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus did but because of Peter’s lack of faith he sank into the water.  Jesus said in vs 31 “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Again, the scriptures say nothing about Jesus weeping.  Certainly, the weeping was not an outward appearance but His heart must have been heavy due to the lack of faith of one of his disciples.  Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of God.  Obviously, faith can only come by diligently studying the word of God.  Admittedly most of do not spend enough time at home studying the word of God.  Therefore, it hard to understand why anyone would forsake the opportunity to come together with Christians to study God’s word.  In Hebrews 5: 13—“For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” When we fail to study the word of God, we fail to grow and God cannot tolerate children that refuse to grow.

Another time that suggests that Jesus wept is found in Luke 22.  Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the cock crowed.  Luke 22: 61 says: “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  Again, Jesus did not shed a visible tear but you know that He was crying on the inside to think that His beloved disciple had just denied Him three times.  Another time that Jesus must had cried on the inside was when His beloved disciple Judas betrayed him.  In Luke 22:47-48 we read: “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him.  48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”  When a man begins to sin, his fall from one act to another is easy–perhaps almost certain.  At first Peter’s sin was only simple denial; then it increased to more violent affirmation, and ended with open profaneness.  Our sins may begin with one easy act. We might casually miss a worship service every now and then.  It may be an occasional lust of the flesh, an occasional lust of the eye or it might be the pride of life.  Whatever the sin might be, there is no doubt that Jesus still weeps today.  When we refuse to give our full attention to serving God we can rest assured that Jesus weeps.  Heb. 4:15—“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”  When we refuse to submit ourselves to the elders who watch over our souls because we do not agree with a decision they make, we cause Jesus to weep.  Hebrews 13:17—“Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

I have no doubt that when I was a new babe in Christ, I did things that made my Savior weep.  As the years have gone by, I have grown to the extent that I am able to overcome the temptations of Satan.  My Bible knowledge through the years have increased as I continue to grow and as a result, I am able to easily withstand the temptations that Satan throws my way.  For that reason, my prayer is that each of us have a desire to grow spiritually so that we do not break our Savior’s heart and cause Him to cry.

In conclusion:  Why would anyone want Jesus to weep as He desires that all be saved?  In 2 Peter 3:9 we learn: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”    He willingly died as a sacrifice for our sins.  Hebrews 13:12: “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.”  Jesus made this sacrifice so that we might have everlasting life if we are faithful unto death.  Revelation 2:10—“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”