Joseph And Jesus – A Real Man Can Weep

Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, January 25, 2004, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. 

JOSEPH AND JESUS – A REAL MAN CAN WEEP

Scripture Reading: Genesis 42:17-24

Text: Genesis 42:24

Genesis 42:24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

Introduction: Our Lord said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 

The book of Genesis is scripture, so the book of Genesis testifies of Jesus. We know that Jesus was referring especially to the first five books of the Bible, for He said:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 

I’ve been trying in recent months to do what Jesus did after His resurrection, when he met with two of His discouraged disciples (are you discouraged?)

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

I believe that our scripture reading is historically and primarily about a real man named Joseph. However, I ALSO see there a prophetic and typical reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I want you to remember that the shortest verse in the Bible says:

John 11:35 Jesus wept. 

Tonight’s message is titled:

JOSEPH AND JESUS – A REAL MAN CAN WEEP

I. JESUS WEEPS BECAUSE OF HIS AWARENESS

John 11:32-35 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 

He is aware:

A. Of our sorrows

B. Of our sins

C. Of our shortsightedness and unbelief

II. JESUS WEEPS BECAUSE OF HIS AFFECTION

John 11:35-36 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 

A. He loves the world

B. He loves the wayward (Prodigal Son)

C. He loves the weak
1. Children
2. Fatherless
3. Widows
4. Elderly

III. JESUS WEEPS BECAUSE OF HIS ANGUISH 

John 11:37-38 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 

He has anguish and grief

A. Over our complaints

B. Over our collapse of faith
1. How IS it that ye have no faith??

C. Over our coldness

IV. JESUS WEEPS BECAUSE OF HIS ACQUAINTANCE

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

A. With pain

B. With persecution

C. With pressure

CONCLUSION: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning!

We can overcome through Him, as He overcame for us!

He is the Overseer of the overcomers!