What Made Jesus Cry

Introduction

One of the themes running through the entire Gospel of Luke is the compassion Jesus Christ had for people…all kinds of people.

Jews, Gentiles (Non-Jews), different ethnic groups, Government workers, tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts of society.

It didn’t seem to matter who you were or where you had come from, if you were an under-dog, you were a candidate to receive Christ’s compassion.

If ever there was a person with a tender heart toward others, it is Jesus Christ.

It’s been said, "The eyes are the window to the soul."

When you and I look deeply into the eyes of another human being, we can see much about that person.

Sometimes, when we look into another’s eyes, we see “a gleam”.

My mother used to say that some people smile with their eyes.

Other times, when we look into another’s eyes we see “a deep sadness” that comes from seeing your fair share of troubled days.

But perhaps nothing is more revealing than when you and I look into another person’s eyes and see tears.

Sometimes tears of joy. Sometimes tears of sadness.

Today I want to talk with you on the subject:

“What Made Jesus Cry?”

There are two instances recorded for us in the Scripture where Jesus cried.

And not just a little. But actually burst into tears and wept like a baby.

One of those instances, as you might well imagine, occurred while Jesus stood at the gravesite of a friend.

That is recorded for us in John 11:28-35.

The second recorded instance of Jesus crying was under a different set of circumstances.

And we find this record in Luke’s Gospel Chapter 19:41-44.

I want us to look at what it was that made Jesus break down into tears.

Perhaps you’ve never heard that Jesus Christ cried.

In fact, crying may be something that you are not accustomed to.

You may associate crying with weakness.

May be phrases like:

“You quit your crying or I’ll give you something to cry about”

Or “Stop it you crybaby” are things you’ve heard or even said.

But I want you to know that there never has been a manlier man than Jesus Christ.

He was a carpenter by trade, which meant that he was no sissy.

He was physically strong, and his hands were no doubt rough and calloused from working with wood all his life.

He knew how to use a hammer and nails and how to build things.

He was a man’s man.

And yet, we read in Luke 19:41-44 these words:

“Now, as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it.”

Just BURST INTO TEARS and cried with such vulnerability that it must have startled the disciples that were with him.

Perhaps there was a little bit of an awkward moment like there is when someone you’re talking with begins to cry and you’re not sure whether to say something or just remain silent.

I’m sure the men and women around him weren’t sure what to do.

I’m sure they wondered what was wrong, what was making their master cry?

Well, let me ask you a question this morning.

What makes you cry?

What sorts of things get to you and cause you to well up with tears?

I know that since Nicole gave birth to Ethan she has experienced a real change.

I’ve seen my wife cry more since giving birth to our son than during the entire time we were dating.

She tells me that ever since she had a child of her own, she’s more sensitive to the pain and suffering of other children.

I’m sure you mothers can understand.

For me personally, thinking about my dad can bring me to tears.

I think about what’s going to happen when he dies and whether I will have known him the way I wanted to.

It’s something I want to work on because I love him.

Jesus was also crying for a reason.

I want to share with you the reasons He gave for his tears.

There are two of them.

Look with me at verse 41:

“Now, as he drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

The First Reason…

1. JESUS CRIED… BECAUSE WHEN HIS PEOPLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THEY REJECTED IT.

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If only you had known…” – V.41a