January 26th, 2024
by Bob DeFelice
by Bob DeFelice
In our series of how to “D.I.E. -2- S.E.L.F.” - last Sunday we looked at the letter “E” - or the “Empathy” of it … and explored – what true Empathy might look like? (for that we look to the teacher – Jesus Christ) . I think we all understand what it means to have empathy – and that it’s different from just having sympathy and it’s the complete opposite of Narcissism. (so prevalent in our world today)
Jesus saw the crowds and had great compassion for them. We See His great empathy throughout the Bible, but I think it’s so clear – in one of the shortest Bible verses (two words) in - John 11:35 - the Holy Spirit - expresses the empathy of Jesus Christ toward us – by sharing that - “Jesus Wept”.
The scene is a group of Jews walking along with Mary (Lazarus’ sister) and Jesus - toward Lazarus’ grave (Lazarus dead now four days) – the Jews noticed that Jesus was deeply grieved and thought - wow – “see How much He loved him”.. boy He really must have loved him, but now he’s dead, “should-a” come sooner. No empathy?
Jesus wasn’t weeping for Lazarus - He was weeping for us - our lack of understanding - our lack of faith - our human frailty a worldly veil over our eyes to the eternal things of God. Also (and I think especially) Jesus Wept because - He felt the very real pain of Mary’s heart. He felt it deeply. That’s empathy!
“Jesus wept.” It’s a most amazing thing - about God. In your pain - in your heartache and suffering - Jesus is weeping with you. Jesus weeps for you and over you. He feels your pain – your heartache. You don’t see it. You may not feel it -and because of that - you may refuse to believe it ... but God never changes - He is the same today as yesterday. If He wept for Mary, He weeps for us and all we are going through. There are no shortcuts in life – unfortunately, we must go through stuff to learn stuff. - The reason He let Lazarus die - was for us to have Hope not just in this life but to point us toward the next one. Paul says in 1st. Corinthians 15:19 “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” The point of this life is the next one.
He Loves us so much - He feels what we are going through. He weeps over us. He understands our plight – and He empathizes with our humanness because He Himself though God took on human Flesh. He can empathize with us because of what He experienced on earth.
Hebrews 5:8-9 says … that - “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation”. Jesus learned obedience-by what He suffered. not that He had to learn anything – He is God - but the point is - that He learned or understood fully - What it means for us in the flesh to humbly walk with and obey God - what it takes to submit to God rather than the desires of the flesh - that’s empathy!
So … "let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” - Hebrews 12:1-3
He has not asked us to do anything that He hasn’t already done first Himself. More importantly He has promised - "I will not leave you Orphans" - He is in the fire with us. '"Look!" - "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; (three men went into the furnace) and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." -
The fact is - that Jesus took on our human flesh and went to the Cross – so we wouldn’t have to – stepping into our shoes - He took our death to give us His life. To me this proves ... His great empathy for every human.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 – of the series ... How – to … “Die-2-Self” – … “The Number Two”
~ Blessings- Bob
Jesus saw the crowds and had great compassion for them. We See His great empathy throughout the Bible, but I think it’s so clear – in one of the shortest Bible verses (two words) in - John 11:35 - the Holy Spirit - expresses the empathy of Jesus Christ toward us – by sharing that - “Jesus Wept”.
The scene is a group of Jews walking along with Mary (Lazarus’ sister) and Jesus - toward Lazarus’ grave (Lazarus dead now four days) – the Jews noticed that Jesus was deeply grieved and thought - wow – “see How much He loved him”.. boy He really must have loved him, but now he’s dead, “should-a” come sooner. No empathy?
Jesus wasn’t weeping for Lazarus - He was weeping for us - our lack of understanding - our lack of faith - our human frailty a worldly veil over our eyes to the eternal things of God. Also (and I think especially) Jesus Wept because - He felt the very real pain of Mary’s heart. He felt it deeply. That’s empathy!
“Jesus wept.” It’s a most amazing thing - about God. In your pain - in your heartache and suffering - Jesus is weeping with you. Jesus weeps for you and over you. He feels your pain – your heartache. You don’t see it. You may not feel it -and because of that - you may refuse to believe it ... but God never changes - He is the same today as yesterday. If He wept for Mary, He weeps for us and all we are going through. There are no shortcuts in life – unfortunately, we must go through stuff to learn stuff. - The reason He let Lazarus die - was for us to have Hope not just in this life but to point us toward the next one. Paul says in 1st. Corinthians 15:19 “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” The point of this life is the next one.
He Loves us so much - He feels what we are going through. He weeps over us. He understands our plight – and He empathizes with our humanness because He Himself though God took on human Flesh. He can empathize with us because of what He experienced on earth.
Hebrews 5:8-9 says … that - “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation”. Jesus learned obedience-by what He suffered. not that He had to learn anything – He is God - but the point is - that He learned or understood fully - What it means for us in the flesh to humbly walk with and obey God - what it takes to submit to God rather than the desires of the flesh - that’s empathy!
So … "let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” - Hebrews 12:1-3
He has not asked us to do anything that He hasn’t already done first Himself. More importantly He has promised - "I will not leave you Orphans" - He is in the fire with us. '"Look!" - "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; (three men went into the furnace) and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." -
The fact is - that Jesus took on our human flesh and went to the Cross – so we wouldn’t have to – stepping into our shoes - He took our death to give us His life. To me this proves ... His great empathy for every human.
Join us this Sunday for Part 4 – of the series ... How – to … “Die-2-Self” – … “The Number Two”
~ Blessings- Bob
Recent
Archive
2024
June
No Comments