Have you ever thought about what it means to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind? I don’t think any of us fully plumb the depths of that commandment, but here are some obvious aspects: 1. Your love for God transcends all other desires (see Exodus 20:3). 2. Like David, you long to gaze upon His beauty and seek fellowship with Him (see Psalm 27:4). 3. You rejoice in meditating on His Word, and, like Jesus, you rise early to pray (Psalm 119:97, Mark 1:35). 4. You always delight to do His will, regardless of how difficult it may be (see Psalm 40:8, NASB). 5. A regard for His glory governs and motivates everything you do – your eating and drinking, your working and playing, your buying and selling, your reading and speaking – and, dare I mention it, even your driving (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). 6. You are never discouraged or frustrated by adverse circumstances because you are confident God is working all things together for your good (see Romans 8:28). 7. You recognize His sovereignty in every event of your life and consequently receive both success and failure from His hand (see 1 Samuel 2:7; Psalm 75:6-7). 8. You are always content because you know He will never leave you or forsake you (see Hebrews 13:5). 9. The first petition in the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be your name,” is the most important prayer you pray (see Matthew 6:9).
Jerry Bridges

Weeping At The grave Of A Loved

Weeping At The grave Of A Loved

65 Fm: PHC 24-322 Mamie Vining 10-17-84 WEEPING AT THE GRAVE OF A LOVED ONE John 11:32-36

INTRODUCTION

  1. Grief is normal: Tennyson wrote, “Oh for the touch of a vanished hand. For the sound of a voice that is still!”
  2. Jesus did not rebuke the grief-striken loved ones left behind (only “that you sorrow not…as others which have no hope.” 1 Thes. 4:13)
  3. Tears help us deal with our loss: Hunt has said, “Tears hinder sorrow from becoming despair”
  4. Let us look at Jesus weeping at the grave:
  5. THE HUMANITY OF JESUS CAUSED TEARS (He’s all God but ALL MAN also)
  6. Heb. 2:14, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise took part of the same
  7. The part of Jesus that would say, “Not my will but thine be done” knew that death was the means to real life but,
  8. The part of Jesus that would say, “If there be any other way let this cup pass from me” felt the pain of separation.
  9. The thought of death being so powerful as to break up homes, families & friendships and leave only scraps of life was sad
  10. The MAN Jesus knows very well the hurt that you are feeling

II. SYMPATHY FOR HIS FRIENDS BROUGHT TEARS TO JESUS’ EYES

  1. Mary and Martha felt disappointment that Jesus waited so long
  2. And seeing the grief of Lazarus’ sisters brought sorrow to him
    1. Heb. 4:15, “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
    2. Is. 53:3, “He is…a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief”
  3. He can now EMPATHIZE with us: To paraphrase Is. 63:9, “In

    all our afflictions he is afflicted, and the angel of His presence saves us: in his love and in his pity he redeems us; and he bares us, and carries us all the days”

III. DIVINE LOVE AND COMFORT TO MAN COMES FROM THOSE TEARS

  1. Divine sympathy and Divine empathy lead to divine help
    1. Is. 53:4, the Man Acquainted with Grief has “born our grief” and the Man of Sorrows has “carried our sorrows”
    2. The reason for His taking on human flesh was “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb. 2:14,15)
  2. Death may win today but resurrections come in the morning:
    1. Jn. 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”
    2. Robert Ingersoll asked why He said, “LAZARUS, come forth”
    3. The widow of Nain felt as you do until Jesus spoke to her, “Weep not” and touched the casket and gave her son life.
  3. He can do much more as well: Rev. 21:4, “God shall wipe away

    all tears from their eyes”

SUMMARY

  1. Jesus KNOWS the pain and grief that you feel
  2. He FEELS that pain with you (borne our griefs)
  3. He will HELP
    1. Promises that the resurrection will bring us together
    2. He will go with us through dark death (yea, though I walk)
    3. He will wipe away all tears from our eyes