Andy Sochor May 15, 2011

Jesus Wept

Text: John 11:35

Jesus Displayed Emotion

We have emotions because we were made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27)
We must control our emotions (1 Peter 5:8)
Emotions are a response to conditions — they are not a goal (emotionalism)

God Allows Human Suffering

Jesus had the power to heal Lazarus & end his suffering — but He allowed him to suffer & die
Human suffering exists as a consequence for sin (Genesis 3:22-24) — but it is not the punishment for sin (Ezekiel 18:2-4)
God allowing human suffering is not for the following reasons — He is uncaring (1 Peter 5:7), uninterested (Philippians 4:6), unable to respond (Luke 1:37), He is punishing us for sin (John 9:1-3)

Jesus Proved Himself to be “The Resurrection and the Life” (v. 25)

Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise again by the power of Christ (v. 23-26)
Jesus needed to convince those who witnessed the event (v. 38-44)
He also needed to prove Himself to those who would hear of this event later (v. 46)

Filed Under: Jesus, New Testament Tagged With: death, emotions, Jesus, Lazarus, miracles, suffering

Jesus Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin (Romans 6:3-6; John 8:34-36). Yet many Christians are content to remain enslaved to it. They have been convinced that we can never defeat sin; therefore, they have resigned themselves to the belief that they will always struggle with it.

Yet the Bible does not present the removal of sin from one’s life as an unattainable ideal but as a realistic goal. Paul said there is a way of escape for every temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Peter spoke of what one needs to do so that he will never stumble (2 Peter 1:10). John wrote so that we may not sin (1 John 2:1). Jesus told the woman allegedly caught in adultery, “Go. From now on sin no more” (John 8:11).

But how can we successfully remove sin from our lives? We first need to understand the reasons why we sin so we can learn how to find the way of escape. This material has been written to help each one of us overcome sin, rather than struggling with it perpetually.

The second edition also contains questions at the end of each chapter to aid in personal and group Bible studies. There is also an appendix at the end with additional articles related to sin and temptation. This book is available in paperback and digital formats.

Click here for more information and to download a sample of the book.