Jesus Weeps

About ten years ago I was awakened from a very disturbing dream.  This dream was vivid and deeply troubling and one that I had not thought about, until recently.  At that point I had no idea why I saw what I saw and what meaning it had.  But now as I have been drawing closer to Jesus and getting a glimpse of His heart cry this dream has come alive with meaning.  This is this dream…

I found myself outside of a church building realising that the service had begun as I was a little delayed.  Walking into the foyer that led into the main auditorium I was shocked to see Jesus there standing alone separated from the gathered Church by closed double doors.  I walked up to Him and as if to assist Him I opened these doors and looked inside waiting for Him to enter first.  Suddenly to my shock Jesus did not enter but took a step back, then fell onto the wall beside me and slid down it like someone would in utter despair.  Wondering what was happening I then saw Jesus on the floor, resting His back on the wall with His knees up to His chest curled up in agony.  His face was in His hands as deep sobs of weeping filled that small space.  I looked at Jesus, I looked back inside the church to see if anyone was seeing this.  To my horror the church service continued on unmoved by this painful scene.  They were  completely unaware of what was happening just outside of their door.  Looking back at Jesus and seeing the grief and pain because of what He saw was so disturbing that I awoke wondering why I had this dream.

Now years on as I have been preparing for our current sermon series “Invasion of God” this dream has become painfully clear.  The Church of Jesus finds itself in a very dangerous position.  It is a position of compromise and impurity and many agree that it is quickly loosing its saltiness.  The light has dimmed.  The watchmen are gone and what remains is a remnant of what once was. But why?

For a more thorough explanation please listen to week 4 of our current sermon series “Invasion of God”, the sermon that speaks of this is titled “Church!  Open The Door!”.  But what I essentially communicated was that many churches today are wondering why church is a burden and why we are not seeing the signs we would expect from a people that say they are Spirit-filled.  Jesus gives us the answer when He confronts the Laodicean Church in Revelation 3.  The specific verse is a well known one and one that is often taken out of its proper context.  Read this and see the correlation it has with the dream described above,

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 ESV)

Question:  If we agree that the Church belongs to Jesus and that He is the Head and Authority over it, THEN WHY IS HE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR KNOCKING TO COME IN?  Shouldn’t He be inside with His people?  Should He even have to knock?  Does Jesus feel like a stranger in His own home?

Very confronting picture and one that demands a wake up call.  The Bible gives us another perspective on this problem in the book of Song of Solomon, yes you read that right, Song of Solomon.  This story paints the picture of a Lover and His Bride.  A love that has it’s moments of breathtaking intimacy and heart-breaking pain.  As you read these next few verses I want you to make the connection with Jesus the one knocking on the door and His Church (The Bride).  Here we go, she begins,

“I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking.” He then calls out, “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.” Now, don’t miss her response, “I had put off my garment; how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?  My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.  I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt.  I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer.”

Do you see it?  She is comfortable in her soft, warm bed.  She hears the knock but makes excuses why she can’t be bothered to open it.  Eventually she comes to her senses, goes to unlock the door, but HE IS GONE!  My heart sinks when I read that.  All that is left is a remnant, a fragrance of where He once was.  Did you know that even God has a limit as to how much He will be rejected?  But the question comes up again?  WHY IS THE DOOR CLOSED & LOCKED TO HIM?

Also notice that the key to the latch and the bolt that locks the door is on our side.  We are the ones entrusted with the responsibility of opening the door.  Let me tell you, I am kicking that door of separation off it’s hinges, never to stand again!  I hate that door.  I hate what it represents.  I hate what it does.  I hate it’s very presence. That door is an ugly door.  Get rid of it.

If the Church does not wake up and kick that door wide open and give Jesus the rightful place of honour and worship He will pass us by and let us continue on our merry little way having church void of His presence.  Sadly some churches will not notice His passing and though the Holy Spirit has removed His presence they will continue on with business-as-usual as if nothing has ever changed.  My heart is gripped with such a burden and sorrow about this that I endeavour to pray and seek Jesus just like this all depended on Him…and it does!

Any doors still standing in your life?  In your church?  Does Jesus weep at the sight of His House or does He rejoice with His saints because He is welcomed there?  Let’s stop settling for good enough, LET’S GET THE KING TO STAY!