Despite reading some commentators’ contrary words, I still sense that as I read and consider John 11:35 so I stand at a precipice that bestows the most generous and expansive view of God whose heart beats with and for us all. I have not finished Charles Spurgeon’s sermon “Jesus Wept” but it is monumental! – Alan Neale
Friends, here is the most remarkable of sermons preached by the most remarkable of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is long, but worthy of careful reading and reflection: Jesus Wept
The sermon text is below the sermon audio.
Sermon Preached at Zion Church, Washington NC
Sunday November 7 2021
The Reverend Alan Neale
“Saints and Tears”
In 1929, in England, a young mother compiled a list of poems with music for her children. Each poem referred to a special day in the church’s year; one of them we just sang… “I sing a song of the saints of God”! Lesbia Scott was the author, later in 1940 the tune Grand Isle was written by Episcopal priest John H. Hopkins (whose uncle, wonder of wonders, wrote words and tune of “We Three Kings”).
To English shame, though written in England, it is in the United States that the hymn gained popularity; even to being included in the Episcopal Hymnal of 1940 and beyond! Thank God for American sensibilities.
At one level, the hymn is a simple joy to sing with its easy rhyming and vigorous images; a deeper level, though, it charges us to remember we are called to be saints and we are called to treat one another as blessed, anointed, sanctified by the Lord our Creator. To make this point at a funeral service of a fellow Brit (Tony Fairchild) we adapted one of the lines… instead of “a shepherdess on a green”, I wrote “a cricketer on a green”. Tony and I inaugurated the St. Columba’s Cricket Club (and here is the first ball played to prove it).
As we celebrate All Saints’, we clearly, rightly, properly remember with thanks those who have affected our lives and now stand on “a farther shore, in a brighter light”. Some saints, for me St. Columba, are widely known and studied; other saints, for me Dr. Stanley Metters, gave themselves to prayer quietly, almost anonymously; and yet more saints, for me John Watson, loved us well and encouraged us much – we miss them all.
As we gather to this table, to be in communion with our Lord, so we also join in communion with all those who have died. It is as the spokes on a wheel… as each one draws closer to the center, so each one draws closer to each other.
But remember, that we all are in process of “saint-making”; sometimes it is several steps forward and several back… but it is a process. The same God who pronounces without equivocation “It is done”; is the same God who announces with determination “See, I am making all things new”.
Occasionally at times of family worship, I indulge myself and use visual aids. A few times I have used this simple method to communicate to all ages that we are “saints in the making”. I carry with me a small suitcase, and explain to all ages that I will soon show them a picture of the most glorious and wonderful saint. Eventually I ask children to come forward and look into the suitcase… their faces beam as they see the saintly image… for there in the suitcase is a… mirror. “Saints in the making” – this means we care better for ourselves and we cherish others all the more. Neither I nor they should feel “less than” in the economy of God.
Isaiah 25 and Revelation 21 point to an apocalyptic, precious, unique time when “death’s shroud and its accompanying heavy grief is removed”, to a time when tears “will be wiped away by our tender Lord”. I want you to note that in Isaiah 25, the Hebrew word for wipe is “machah” (and in Revelation 21 the Greek word e(ch)aleipo)– the word suggests a gentle but firm removal, such as will leave no memory or grief… forever. Oh my, our God… God’s way is perfect.
But, meanwhile, we grieve… we lament… we ache… we cry… we sob… we weep.
Speaking of tears, I share with you the shortest verse in the Bible (one it would be good to learn by heart); a verse that though short is replete with meaning… theological (understanding the nature of God), Christological (understanding the nature of Christ), soteriological (understanding the nature of our salvation, rescue, liberation) – my apologies for swallowing a dictionary!
“I have often felt vexed with the man, whoever he was, who chopped up the New Testament into verses. He seems to have let the hatchet drop indiscriminately here and there; but I forgive him a great deal of blundering for his wisdom in letting these two words make a verse by themselves: “Jesus wept.” This is a diamond of the first water, and it cannot have another gem set with it, for it is unique. Shortest of verses in words, but where is there a longer one in sense? Add a word to the verse, and it would be out of place. No, let it stand in solitary sublimity and simplicity. You may even put a note of exclamation after it, and let it stand in capitals,
“JESUS WEPT!” (Charles Spurgeon)
The verse? John 11:35. Two words in English, only very slightly more in Greek. “Jesus wept”.
For a moment, reflect on this scene. The one who is about to bring Lazarus back to life; the one who is preparing for that cosmic work of agonizing redemption on the Cross… this one, “weeps”.
In the 5th century Pope Leo the Great comments thus on this verse: in discussing the two natures of Jesus, he writes: “In His humanity Jesus wept for Lazarus; in His divinity he raised him from the dead.” The sorrow, sympathy, and compassion Jesus felt for all mankind. The rage he felt against the tyranny of death over mankind.”
I take issue with this over-simplification; this convenient demarcation line drawn between the humanity and divinity of Jesus. The wonder of this text, in part, for me is this… here I behold (with wonder and awe) God crying, weeping, quietly sobbing. “He was not ashamed of his [humanity/frailty]. He could have repressed his tears – many men do so habitually” (Charles Spurgeon).
Of course much has been written as to the reason for Jesus’ tears – his friend has died, other close friends are in grief, he senses their anguish and doubt and he rages at what sin manufactures constantly.
But I believe this is no unique event, an isolated occurrence… I believe that from the Garden in Eden onwards the heart of God has pulsated with love and compassion for those whom He creates; for me… for you. The word “weep” in John 11:35 suggests “began to weep” (as some translations read)… this human/divine weeping is part of a constant torrent of tears for us as we wander and harm ourselves and one others.
Here there is an infinite capacity for compassion; here there is an infinite commitment to compassion.
This side of heaven’s door, our capacity and commitment to compassion will ever be in flux but we make it our resolution today (to follow the saints of God) – to resolve to weep as Jesus weeps, to love as Jesus loves… ourselves, those close to us and God’s aching world. AMEN
Friends, here is the most remarkable of sermons preached by the most remarkable of preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is long, but worthy of careful reading and reflection: Jesus Wept