Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Word of the Lord which engages us this ev ening comes from our Gospel lesson (John 11, especially verses 35-36). ����������������

People cry all the time. Sometime in life, we all shed tears. We cry because we hurt. Sometimes we shed tears of joy, but most of the time we cry because something is wrong. Maybe it's a death, maybe it's leaving a job, maybe it's the end of a relationship. Sometime in life, we all cry tears of pain and sadness. ����������������

Even Jesus cried � real tears of pain and sadness. Jesus cried as he saw the pain that sin and death brought into the world. He cried when he considered and when he felt the full price that sin and death would cost him. Tonight we hear the sound of crying. Listen carefully: In the sound of Jesus' tears, can you hear how He loves you? ����������������

The first time we encounter Jesus crying is at the death of his friend Lazarus. Lazarus was the brother of Mary and Martha. You remember them � the sisters who invited Jesus to eat. Martha was busy hustling and bustling to get everything ready, while Mary sat and listened to the Lord. Martha became angry about this arrangement, and Jesus told her that Mary made the better choice. Well, Mary and Martha had a brother named Lazarus. He became ill. His sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, "Lord, the one you love is sick" (John 11:3). I'm sure they expected Jesus to come just as soon as he heard, but he didn't. Instead he waited around for a few days and then set out to see Lazarus. He told his disciples that Lazarus had died, but that he "was going to wake him up" (John 11:11). ����������������

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, came out to meet him. Where had Jesus been? Why didn't he come when he got the news? "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11: 21-22) ����������������

Jesus reminded her that he is "the resurrection and the life" (v. 25), and that all who believe in him never actually die. Even when they end life on this earth, they will live with him forever. Then he asked Martha, "Do you believe this? (Do you really trust this)?" "Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world" (John 11: 26-27). ����������������

Jesus, Mary and Martha approached the tomb. A crowd of people followed. Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew he was going to go to the tomb to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew the surprise and the joy that were to come. Yet as he went to the tomb, Jesus began to cry. At this place, we find that short, poignant verse "Jesus wept" (John 11: 35). ����������������

But why, with all that Jesus knew, why was he crying? Most of the people thought Jesus was crying for Lazarus. "See how he loved him!" (John 11: 36), the townspeople said. The fact is, though, Jesus wasn't crying for Lazarus. He knew Lazarus was just fine. Jesus was crying for Mary and Martha. Jesus was crying for the people in the town. Jesus cried for all those who were in pain at Lazarus' death. They knew he loved Lazarus and his sisters because he cried tears for them. He cried because he saw the pain and torment that death caused. So he cried with the people as they cried for their friend. ��������������

A 2nd time we find Jesus crying is in the Garden of Gethsemane. Referring particularly to that night, the writer to the Hebrews tells us, "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death" (Hebrews 5:7). This time as Jesus weeps, there's no crowd of people. Jesus is by himself. His disciples are sound asleep nearby, oblivious to their Master's tears and pain. He throws himself down on the ground, shedding tears in anguish. ��

"Father!" Can you hear the pain and torment in that word? Can you see the tears rushing down his cheeks as he cries aloud to God? Oh, Jesus cried that night � shed blood and sweat, no doubt mixed with tears of pain and torment. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me" (Luke 22: 42). ����������������

Why is Jesus crying now? Think of it: again Jesus knows what's going to happen. He's told his disciples over and over: "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." (Matthew 17: 22-23). Jesus knew the joy at the end, the resurrection. So why is he crying now? ����������������

He's crying because of the cup. "Let this cup pass from me!" Do you remember the song "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"? "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored." Those grapes are pressed into a cup, the cup of God's wrath. ��

Throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 51) "the cup" is a picture of God's wrath. That cup, filled with the wine of the Lord's anger, he promised the nations would one day be forced to drink, and it would send them all reeling. That cup, the cup of God's wrath and anger, was now at Jesus' lips. He recoiled in horror at the thought of drinking it � of being the sin bearer for the whole world. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." (Luke 22: 42) ����������������

Jesus knew what was in the cup, but he also knew that someone had to drink it. We couldn't face God's wrath on our own terms. 10,000 times 10,000 years in hell would not be enough pain and anguish to alleviate the wrath of the Holy God. Only the death of a sinless person, an infinite sinless person, of God himself � only the death of Jesus � would be enough to take away God's righteous anger. Jesus would have to drink the hated cup of God's wrath. Even knowing that all of this would happen, Jesus was willing to go through with it, to go to the cross. Many people have asked me if I thought Jesus' suffering was as severe as The Passion movie portrayed it. It may have been worse. While on the outside Jesus was suffering the human cruelty of scourging and crucifixion, on the inside his suffering may have been even worse. As he drank the cup of God's wrath, did he suffer every effect of human original sin? Isaiah said (53: 4) "Surely he took up our infirmities (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows." Even in Gethsemane was Jesus suffering from all of our sicknesses (cancers, infections, fevers, & pains) and burdened by all human griefs from all time? ��

Only the Son of God could take on such a burden -- with tears. ����������������

In return, Jesus and his tears would give us the perfect life that God requires. His tears would dry our tears. The writer to the Hebrews (5: 8-9) tells us "Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey (surrender to) him." We can almost imagine the angels, seeing their Lord calling out to his Father in anguish and yet fully willing to suffer it all, saying "See how he loves them." ����������������

Once more, at the cross, we can surely picture Jesus shedding tears. Tears of pain as the nails went through his hands and feet. Tears of grief as the chief priests stood laughing at him. Tears of anguish as he saw his mother crying in pain for her Son. Tears of supreme agony as his Father mysteriously abandoned him to the full torments of hell in our place. And finally tears of victory as he called out in triumph "It is finished" (John 19:30). "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23: 46). ����������������

Oh yes, Jesus cried. Jesus cried to see what death had done to his people. He cried to see the pain that the punishment of death and hell placed upon us. But Jesus did more than cry about the pain caused by sin and death. He did a lot more than merely hurt with the people of God. He hurt in our place. Jesus defeated death once and for all, winning God's grace and salvation forever. All people � from every time and every place � who trust in Jesus are completely forgiven, their sins are wiped away. ����������������

And not only did Jesus die in our place. No, he rose again on Sunday morning. Never forget the joy of Easter morning! For there we see the 'next-to-last' victory of Jesus, as he broke free of death's prison and showed that the curse of death, the curse of Eden itself, was finally destroyed. We look forward to the final victory of Jesus, when he returns and calls forth all those from the grave and dries every tear. ����������������

Brothers and sisters, each of us has pains and hurts now. Sometimes we feel lonely. Other times we feel distressed. Some members of our congregation are facing personal battles; others are facing surgeries, cancers, heart problems; others have lost loved ones. But I want to assure you that as you face each of these tough roads, you are never alone. Jesus is with you. Jesus hurts with you. Jesus walks with you. Jesus cries real tears with you. Jesus promises to bring you through times of pain and darkness, into his peace and joy.

And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 7)

(Note: This sermon and sermon series comes from Rev. James Butler and published in Concordia Pulpit Resources, February, 2004. Modified slightly)