Hope for the Hopeless

This week our thoughts will focus on the passion that Christ had for those He came to bring life and hope. There are two times in the Bible when it is recorded that Jesus wept. He wept as He stood at the tomb of Lazarus and as He stood outside of Jerusalem looking down upon the city as He approached at the Triumphal Entry.

At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus does identify with the grief of Mary and Martha at the loss of a brother but His words also remind us of the sorrow He feels over the unbelief of the people. Jesus came to bring hope that goes beyond the grave. The scene outside of Jerusalem gives us a good look into the heart of Christ as to the burden that He carried for the people.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace — but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41-42

I did a quick word search in the Bible for “wept”. Numerous times throughout scripture it is recorded that people wept over the sense of hopelessness that had a hold on them. When Christ came to this earth He was the HOPE that cancels hopelessness. He wept because the eyes of people were blinded. The need is still with us today.

As we spend time focusing on outreach, strive to understand the heart of God for humanity that is revealed through Jesus Christ. Will the same passion for the lost that led Jesus to weep drive us to our knees weeping over the state of hopelessness that grips the lives of those around us?

Prayer: Lord, we want to be channels of Your grace to bring a message of HOPE to all who live in constant HOPELESSNESS.