Sermon Tone Analysis

“Jesus Wept”

 

Text: John 11.35

 

Thesis: To show the sympathetic, loving, human side of the Christ in order to realize that He

             does care about us and our hardships.

Introduction:

 

(1)    John 11.35 generally is known as the shortest verse in the English Bible.

(a)    In the Greek, 1 Thess.

5.16 (“rejoice evermore”) is the shortest.

(b)    Unfortunately, people fail to understand the depth contained in those two words.

(2)    Didn’t Jesus know that He was going to raise Lazarus?

(a)    He had just said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11.25).

(b)    Further, didn’t He know that Lazarus was in a far better place?

(3)    Jesus did know all of this, but He still was moved with compassion so that He wept.

Discussion:

 

I.

Jesus is compassionate and caring.

A.

He cried at the tomb of lazarus (John 11.35).

1.

He wept for a dearly loved friend.

2.      “It was in sympathy with those who wept that he also wept.

Here is no automaton, but a real human being” (Bruce 247).

3.      “Overcome by emotion, he gave way to weeping” (Tenney 119).

B.     He wept over the city of Jerusalem and her coming destruction.

1.

He saw the city and wept over it (Luke 19.41).

2.      “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling” (Matt.

23.37).

C.

He shed tears for Calvary.

1.      “In the days of His flesh, He offered both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety” (Heb.

5.7).

2.      And still while upon the cross, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

D.    He was moved with compassion.

1.      “And moved with compassion, Jesus touch their eyes […]” (Matt.

20.34).

2.      “And moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand […]” (Mark 1.41).

3.      “And when He went ashore, He saw a great multitude, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things” (Mark 6.34).

II.

Jesus stood where we stand today.

A.

He saw and felt pain, hurt, hardships, etc.

B.     He was tempted like we are, yet without sin (Heb.

4.15; cf.

Matt.

4).

C.     “Therefore, He had to be make like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb.

2.17).

D.    He knows, My Jesus knows.

III.

Application:

 

A.

“For since He himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” (Heb.

2.18).

B.     “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need” (Heb.

4.16).

C.     “Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet.

5.7).

Conclusion:

 

(1)    Jesus knows what this life is like and is available to us for help along the storms of life.

(2)    Poem: Footprints

(3)    Jesus loves you and wants you to be with Him, will you let Him be your Savior?