There are two verses in the Bible that are tied for the shortest. Both are only two words long. Do you know what they are?
1 Thessalonians 5:16 says “Rejoice always!” John 11:35 says “Jesus wept.”
What would make Jesus cry? Interestingly both accounts of Jesus’ crying had to do with His Sadness over others not receiving His Gift of Joy. It is Jesus’ Desire that we all receive His Joy. He wants us to rejoice always!
” … that My Joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:11
Why would anyone not receive Jesus’ Joy? It may be they do not recognize that Jesus is indeed with them always … Present, Powerful and wanting to give them Complete Joy.
We often look back to the events of what we now call Easter and see Jesus in the past. We are thankful He came, but we may have a hard time connecting something that happened thousands of years ago with something that is happening to us right now.
Sometimes we focus on the future. Especially when times are tough, we sigh deeply and say, “But Jesus is coming back one day.” We believe that if He were here, He would eliminate all problems in the world.
Mary and Martha were devastated by the death of their brother, Lazarus. Jesus told Martha,
“Your brother will rise again.”
Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection in the last day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in Me will not die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will not die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:23-26
What did she say? What would you say?
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are The Messiah, The Son of God, Who is to come into the world.”
John 11:27
Martha got it partly right, but missed something very important. She said “Who is to come.” She did not understand The Truth of Jesus’ Revelation that He was there already.
Martha went back to grieving. Jesus wept. He wanted to give her Joy, but she did not receive.
The second instance of Jesus’ weeping came when He considered the lost people of Jerusalem.
As He “saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had known on this day what would bring you peace …'”
Luke 19:41
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Luke 13:34
Jesus longed to give them Joy, but they would not receive it. He wept over them.
Jesus is here now. He wants to rejoice now and always with you! Will you accept His Gift of Joy?
“I have come that you may have Life and have it to the full!”
John 10:10
