Thank you, sir. God bless you. Are you glad you're saved? Say, Amen. It's good to be here. God bless you. If you'll take your Bible, turn to the book of Luke chapter 19, the book of Luke chapter 19. Pastor, thank you so much for including me in this meeting. I mean that. God bless you. You're a dear friend, and I appreciate your faithfulness down through the years. And Brother Josh, wherever you are, that was a great message. God bless you, sir. I appreciate the Lord using that in a great way. Also, these songs, both of them, they have done what they're supposed to do, and that is prepare the heart for the preaching of the Word of God. We come to a thought in the Word of God that maybe you've thought about, maybe you haven't, maybe you've preached on this. But this is something the Lord has laid on my heart for this hour. It's simple. But you know, the longer I preach, the more simple I wanna be. One preacher said it this way, I don't know if it was Lee Robertson or Bobby Robertson, it was one of the two, said, God said, feed my lambs, not my giraffes, so put it on the bottom shelf. I like that statement. And we come to this thought in Luke chapter 19. We're not gonna stay in here, this is just one of our thoughts, but we begin in Luke chapter 19, verse 41. Well, the Word of God says, And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the day shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and come past thee round, and keep thee in on every side. And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee, and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another, because thou knewest not the time. of thy visitation. Notice in verse number 41, the Bible says, When the Lord came near to the city, and he beheld it, he wept over it. And this morning I want to preach to you on why Jesus wept. Why Jesus wept. Let's pray together, I'll share this thought. Father, would you guide, lead, and direct us today. Thank you, Lord, for the message we've already heard. Thank you for the singing. Thank you, this pastor, his dear family that stands with him, and the church family here. Keep them strong for you, I pray. Would you deal with us in this service? Bless the message to follow. May everything be said and done for your glory, in Jesus' name, amen. When it comes to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are so many things that we could focus on. But for this service, I want us to focus on one aspect of our Lord and Savior that's so precious. And this particular truth is about, I'm talking about Him as a truth that we can not only learn from, but apply to our own lives today. And this truth is how Jesus Christ wept at different times in His earthly journey. Now think about this, Jesus, the Son of God, God manifest in the flesh, as the book of John calls Him, the creator of it all, when He was standing in His own creation, the Alpha and Omega, three different times in His earthly ministry, He's found weeping. In order to help with this, we're going to visit all three of these passages. This is the first one, when the Lord Jesus is found weeping, and we're going to study that passage and find out why is He weeping here. And learning why Jesus wept can be a blessing. It can also be a challenge to our hearts today. So let's ask the Lord to speak to our hearts as you're listening. Ask Him to speak to you. Why Jesus wept. The first reason, I've already read the passage here, it's found in Luke chapter 19, verses 41 to 44. And the first reason we notice why Jesus wept, number one, was over the punishment of those who rejected Him. See, in these verses we read how the Lord came near and beheld the city of Jerusalem. And when He saw it, He wept over it. He spoke concerning how they had forfeited what would have been their peace and instead were on a sure path of destruction. He talks of how the days would come upon them when their enemies would punish them to the point that them and their children would be affected and there would not be one stone left upon another. Now if you know church history, you realize that that was fulfilled in A.D. 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans. And he goes on to say the reason that they would be punished instead of experience peace was due to the fact that they didn't know the time of their visitation. In other words, they did not recognize their Messiah had come. They did not receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their peace, but rather they rejected Him and would therefore be punished. Luke 13, 34, and 35 expands where it says, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, this is Jesus speaking, which killest the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee. How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. Let this speak to us. The point is Jesus wept over these people who were going to be punished for not accepting him. These who could have known peace, but instead would be destroyed, broke the heart of Jesus Christ. By the way, you know what the word wep means here? It means to bewail, lament, mourn, wail aloud, or sob. It's a sign of great pain and great grief. He's very emotional here. In other words, he's not over here just shaking silently. No, he's crying out loud. He's weeping out loud. He's sobbing. Can I say it this way? Uncontrollably. And no doubt the application here is to lost people today who reject Jesus Christ, who is their peace, who is their Lord, is their Savior. But when they reject him, they are rejecting their peace. They're rejecting their Lord. They're rejecting their Savior. And rather, they're gonna end up in punishment and destruction instead of peace. The Word of God plainly teaches that those who reject Jesus Christ will be punished. Matthew 25, 46, and these shall go away into everlasting punishment. 2 Thessalonians 1, 7 through 9, and to you who are troubled, rest with us. when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Folks, Jesus Christ wept passionately over those who rejected His peace for certain destruction. Question. When's the last time that you and I have wept like this over a lost and dying soul? By the way, you don't have to weep out loud to have a broken heart. Everybody understands what I'm saying to you. But are we truly broken over people who are headed for punishment? God forgive us in this. God forgive me. You know, it's God's will for the world to be saved. The Bible teaches this in 2 Peter 3, 9, the Lord's not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. And in the same way that it's God's will that the world be saved, it's God's will for all of his children to spread the message. This is Mark 16, 15, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. From across the street to across the sea, we are to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Question, are you? And I'm talking to us preachers. See, we must set the example in this. And may I remind all of us that there are two things that we as God's children can do on earth that we cannot do in heaven. You know what they are? One of them is sin. We can sin here, we're not going to sin there. It's a perfect place. You know what the other one is? It's tell lost people about Jesus. Because there's lost people here, there are no lost people there, everybody's already saved. Now folks, if the only two things that we can do on earth that we can't do in heaven is sin and soul winning, which one of those two do you think he's left us here to do? That's not a trick question. He has left us here to get his burden for lost people, to get broken over lost people, to follow his example and weep over people who are forfeiting his peace for punishment. And it motivates us to go after them and tell them about Jesus Christ. Number one, he wept over the punishment of those who rejected him. Number two, if you'll turn to the book of John chapter 11 and wait on me there, in John chapter 11 we find the second time in the word of God where it's found that Jesus is found weeping. I'm coming to verse 32 in John chapter 11. Let me just paraphrase what's going on. You already know the story. In this passage is the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. If you read John chapter 11, you're gonna find early on that Mary and Martha sends word to Jesus when Lazarus is not dead, he's only sick at this time. The Lord stays right where he was for two days before he responded to their desire for him to come. So that by the time the Lord arrived, Lazarus had died and been buried for four days. Now, so not to get bogged down with the significance of the four days, I don't wanna do that. Let me just simply say this, all hope was gone and everybody knew it at that time. Let's just stay with the theme of what we're dealing with, why Jesus wept. When they hear that Jesus was on his way, Martha goes out to the Lord and had a conversation with him. Then the Bible tells us in verse 32 that when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, the Bible says she fell down at his feet, telling him if he had been there, Lazarus would not have died. In other words, she knew that if Jesus would have come earlier when they wanted Him to come, her brother could have been spared death. Now folks, maybe this is her questioning the Lord not coming, not real sure, but the point is that she's broken here because the next verse tells us that she's weeping at His feet. Do you see her? Use your mind here. She has fallen at his feet. Lord, if you had only been here, my brother not died and she's weeping. And that word weeping there is another word that means she's crying out loud. She's making noise at his feet. She's broken hearted and hurting for the passing of her brother. Verse 33 tells us that when Jesus saw her and others weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. The word troubled means he was stirred up inwardly, his inside was full of commotion. Then in verse 35, the Bible says it, Jesus wept. Now remember, in Luke chapter 19, when he's looking over the city and he's weeping over that city, that's an out loud cry, sobbing aloud, right? But that's not this word. The word here for wept means to shed tears and cry silently, that's what it means. The picture I have of him, do you see Mary falling down at his feet? Do you see her broken hearted, questioning him, doubting him, crying out loud, weeping and wailing out loud at that time instead of looking up at the face of Jesus Christ and seeing anger in his eyes and saying, get up, don't you trust me, don't you believe me? You're not gonna find that in this passage. The Bible says rather if you looked up into his face at that time, I picture a tear coming down of his eye, just coming out of his eye, just coming down his face. He's crying silently. This is so touching, is it not? So moving to me. Here's the second point. We see Jesus wept, first of all, over the punishment of those who rejected him. But we see him weeping here, secondly, over the pain of those who were hurting. Here we have the blessed son of God, the creator of the universe, who's getting ready to perform a miracle of resurrection, nevertheless taking this time to weep with these brokenhearted people. You know what he's doing? He's caring for the broken. He's caring for the hurting. He's caring for the grieving and caring for the sorrowing. Now I know some people will try to tell you here that he's weeping because he's getting ready to bring Lazarus back, and I'm not going to fight about that, but folks, why would he weep over a miracle that's going to bring himself glory? What I'm saying is you're not going to convince me otherwise that he's just fulfilling Hebrews 4.15, we have not in high priest which cannot be touched with the filling of our infirmities. The Bible also tells in Isaiah 53.3 that Jesus is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. The point here is Jesus wept when others, especially His own, were brokenhearted, hurting, questioning, doubting. He was weeping over their pain. This is a precious passage that shows us that our Lord and Savior, He really does tenderly care about us. As the song goes, does Jesus care when my heart is pained? Too deeply for mirth or song? As the burdens press and the cares distress and the way grows weary and long? Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear? As the daylight fades and the deep night shades, does He care enough to be near? Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong? When for my deep grief there is no relief, though my tears flow all the night long. Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye, like in this passage, to the dearest on earth to me? And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks, as it ought to Him does He see. And as the chorus goes, oh yes, he cares. I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief. When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares. In a crowd that's here today, somebody, somebody more than likely has walked in here in this service brokenhearted. Something has broken your heart. And sometimes it's stuff you don't understand. Sometimes it's stuff and you start asking yourself, even in your own mind, by the way, if you never questioned God, I'd like you to sign my Bible. Sometimes troubles can hit you so hard out of nowhere and you wonder, where's the Lord? Why is he not here? He is there, but you think he's not. You don't have learned about the Lord. And even when you're questioning, even when you're doubting, Even when life is thrown a curve ball that you can't connect the dots, you ever been there? He doesn't condemn you. He cries with you. That's Jesus. Number one, he cried over the punishment of those who rejected him. Those that rejected his peace for destruction. Number two, he cried over the pain of those who were hurting. And then the third place is found actually in the book of Hebrews, chapter number five. If you'll turn there, it's in reference to when he was on earth, but it sheds some light on something here that is another touching, moving point here. It's found in Hebrews chapter five, verse seven. In a reference here, the Bible says this, it says, who in the days of his flesh, it's talking about Christ, verse five and following, it's talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, notice this now, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared. This verse tells us that in the days of his flesh, that means when he was walking on earth, obviously, he offered up prayers and supplication, notice the Bible tells us here, with strong crying and tears. This again is an outcry. It's a voice of wailing and lamentation. It's a cry for help from one who's deeply distressed and in danger. That's what this phrase means. Now, this seems to be a reference, one I agree with, to when the Lord was in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he was praying before his crucifixion. Don't turn there, just let me turn there for time's sake. But there's two passages that I personally believe that this is what the reference is here in Hebrews chapter 5 verse 7, that tells in the days of his flesh, he offered up with strong crying and tears, he's praying for deliverance, okay? In Matthew chapter number 26, listen to this. Then come of Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane. And Seth unto the disciples, sit ye here while I go and pray under. He took with him Peter and two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death, tarry ye here and watch with me. And he went a little further and fell on his face and prayed, O my father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. In Luke chapter number 22, just trying to shed some light on this, Luke 22, 41 and following says it this way, and he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down and prayed in the garden, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. Now listen to this next verse. And being in an agony, he was in an agony, the Bible says. He prayed more earnestly and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground. You know what that word agony means? When it says when he was in the garden of Gethsemane and the angel is sent to strengthen him, he's in an agony. You know what that word agony means? It means a severe mental, emotional struggle and anguish. You ever had a mental battle going on in your head? I'm talking about it's torturing you. I mean, you're full of anguish and mentally struggling. Let this grip our hearts. The sinless Son of the living God is staring His death and His separation from His heavenly Father in the face. And He's weeping out loud, struggling in His mind, full of anguish, realizing he's in danger, he's deeply distressed. My third point, Jesus wept over the price that he would pay for our sin. See, our sin and the price that it would cost him caused him to burst into tears and weeping. to see if there's any other possible way. Yet, he surrendered to the Father's will. And he paid this awful payment to forgive our sins and make the way for us to be with him. I have here in all capital letters, exclamation points, praise his name, what a Savior, what a Lord, what a God. He did pay a debt he did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay. I needed someone to wash my sins away. Now I sing a brand new song. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay. When we think of this time that Jesus wept when he was facing the penalty for my sin, let me quote a commentator who put it this way, that we had sinned, that we had sinned. that our sins caused him such anguish, that he endured for us this bitter conflict should make us weep. That man must have a hard heart who has never had an emotion when he has reflected or remembered that the Son of God not only bled and died for him, the Son of God wept for him. The point is when we consider this awful price our Lord paid that we deserve, Should it not cause so many things in our hearts for Him? How can I do anything less than love Him? How can I do anything less than worship Him? How can I do anything less than serve Him and commit completely to Him and tell others about Him? And if I've fallen down, get back up for Him. How can I do anything less when I see what He did for me? Men, ladies, children, adults, whatever your age, is it not a precious thought to consider how our Lord and our Savior, God Himself, cried? That's like stepping on holy ground, is it not? Let us never forget these three times that the Bible tells us that Jesus wept and why he did. He wept because of the punishment of those who rejected him. God break our hearts for lost people. He wept over the pain of those who are hurting and suffering, especially his own, like Mary, who was questioning him. And if you're questioning him, the devil will try to put thoughts in your mind and then judge you for thanking them. He'll try to condemn you for judging and doubting and questioning. I'm not trying to justify our doubts, but even when you doubt God, He doesn't condemn you. There's no condemnation of them who are in Christ Jesus. But He tenderly loves you, and He cries with you, even when He knows He's getting ready to give you a miracle like you've never seen. I've been there. I've been there. When I went through my severe depression and so on, my wife and I have written a book and all of this, it's called Rainbows in the Dark. It's that because my wife just, she loves rainbows, and rainbows in the word of God stands for the promises of God, right? And he just started giving promises in the darkness. I remember times when I would look up to heaven. I just specifically remember this one time I was out trying to get some help, didn't know what was going on and all these kind of things. I was losing the battle in my mind. I was believing lies of the devil, all the above. And I looked up to heaven. Mad at God. Blaming God. Where are you at, Lord? Why aren't you helping me, God? Why can't I feel your presence right now, Lord? I'm ashamed of those times. Thought I'd never preach again. God took the darkness and he's widened our ministry. I look back at that time and I think to myself, what was God doing at that time? A lot of it was my own sin. I wasn't living in sin. I'm talking about my mind believing lies. That's sin, you understand? I look back at that time and think about all the things that I was thinking toward him. And all I can picture is him just sitting on his throne and just tears coming out of his face. Not saying anything. Realizing that I don't understand yet, he doesn't understand. Still don't understand some things. But I don't have to. Because I realized that even though he had every right, if he wanted to, to take me out, he didn't. He just left me. You hurting today? Life throwing a curve ball that you think even God himself's forgotten you? I've been there. That's a lie of the devil, friends. He never leaves, never forsakes, never condemns. You understand what I'm saying to you? He loves you, he cares about you. That's the second point. Finally, let us never forget that he wept over the price that he would pay. So you and I can put our head on our pillow tonight with no doubt and peace in our heart. that if I don't wake up tomorrow, I'll wake up in glory, right? Let's never forget these things. So let me ask you some questions, I'm done. Are you weeping over those who are going for certain punishment? Are you hurting or broken and need just to rest in his care? Are we living in such a way that he deserves after the price he paid for our sins? May God help us to keep the tears of Jesus Christ in our hearts and minds. Do you at least understand what I'm preaching today? Then I think I need to close right there. Let's pray together. Father, would you bless? Would you help us to understand these thoughts? May these thoughts not only be understood, but may we never get over them. May you constantly remind us of these three times and why you cried. May you constantly remind us of these things. Help us to cry for things that you cried over. Help us to be broken over people who are headed for punishment when they could have peace. Help us, Lord God, to bring our burdens to you. And when people are broken before us, help us not to be hard hearted, but help us to have your spirit. And Father, help us to understand that the price that Jesus Christ paid, Lord Jesus, help us to see you clear, crying in the garden before the crucifixion, and you struggling mentally the way you did for us. Help us to live with that in mind and serve you all of our days. You are worthy. We give you praise in Jesus' name, amen. God bless you.