As a child, you memorized the shortest verse in the Bible for a memory verse. I did too. hehehe
John 11:35
(35) Jesus wept.
HERE IS ANOTHER short and simple one, that is not so dark and sad
Acts 8:8
(8) And there was great joy in that city.
Here is the background to both verses.
"Jesus wept,"
...because He was disturbed that His friends did not grasp the reality that He had power over death. He had just been told that His friend Lazarus had died and Mary complained that her brother would not have died if Christ had come earlier. The Greek words in this passage actually indicate that Jesus was so bothered by her lack of faith as well as His disdain for death. Along with this sad picture of Jesus holding back a torrent of emotion (tears at the death of his friend, and distress at the disbelief of others), Jesus then raises Lazarus from the dead. Wow, we see Jesus as a sensitive and caring man, and as the Almighty God, who has the power to raise the dead.
"And there was great joy in that city,"
...because Philip had preached the gospel and many were delivered from various ailments. The presence and preaching of the gospel brings great joy to people who are oppressed and suffering.
Doubting God leads to distress and disappointment, while trusting God leads to "joy unspeakable and full of glory."
I am hoping to share some great verses on JOY in my comment box below, so please check back. I think you will appreciate it.
JOY... Read the context of the verse, for the background information. This is not an exhaustive list of verses.
The Joy of Salvation is Lost When Believers Fall Away
Luke 8:13
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Joy Awaits Believers
Matthew 25:21
(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The Realization of the Resurrection Gives Joy.
Matthew 28:8
(8) And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Crushing Persecution Produces Leaping Joy.
Luke 6:22-23
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Believing God's Word Produces Joy.
Luke 8:13
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
The Word of Christ Produces Joy.
John 15:11
(11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Believer's Sorrow is Turned to Joy
John 16:20
(20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
No One Takes Away the Believer's Joy
John 16:22
(22) And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Persecution Produces Joy
Acts 13:52
(52) And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Conversion of the Lost Gives Joy to Believers
Acts 15:3
(3) And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Proper Priorities Produce Joy
Acts 20:24
(24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Reconciliation with God Through Atonement Produces Joy
Romans 5:11
(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Believing Leads To Joy
Romans 15:13
(13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Abundance of Joy in Great Trial of Affliction
2 Corinthians 8:2
(2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Joy Accompanies Sacrifice and Service
Philippians 2:17
(17) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
God's Joy Accompanies God's Testing
James 1:2
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Rejoice in Sufferings, For They Result in Exceeding Joy
1 Peter 4:13
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
John 11:35
(35) Jesus wept.
HERE IS ANOTHER short and simple one, that is not so dark and sad
Acts 8:8
(8) And there was great joy in that city.
Here is the background to both verses.
"Jesus wept,"
...because He was disturbed that His friends did not grasp the reality that He had power over death. He had just been told that His friend Lazarus had died and Mary complained that her brother would not have died if Christ had come earlier. The Greek words in this passage actually indicate that Jesus was so bothered by her lack of faith as well as His disdain for death. Along with this sad picture of Jesus holding back a torrent of emotion (tears at the death of his friend, and distress at the disbelief of others), Jesus then raises Lazarus from the dead. Wow, we see Jesus as a sensitive and caring man, and as the Almighty God, who has the power to raise the dead.
"And there was great joy in that city,"
...because Philip had preached the gospel and many were delivered from various ailments. The presence and preaching of the gospel brings great joy to people who are oppressed and suffering.
Doubting God leads to distress and disappointment, while trusting God leads to "joy unspeakable and full of glory."
I am hoping to share some great verses on JOY in my comment box below, so please check back. I think you will appreciate it.
JOY... Read the context of the verse, for the background information. This is not an exhaustive list of verses.
The Joy of Salvation is Lost When Believers Fall Away
Luke 8:13
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Joy Awaits Believers
Matthew 25:21
(21) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
The Realization of the Resurrection Gives Joy.
Matthew 28:8
(8) And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Crushing Persecution Produces Leaping Joy.
Luke 6:22-23
(22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
(23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Believing God's Word Produces Joy.
Luke 8:13
(13) They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
The Word of Christ Produces Joy.
John 15:11
(11) These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Believer's Sorrow is Turned to Joy
John 16:20
(20) Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
No One Takes Away the Believer's Joy
John 16:22
(22) And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Persecution Produces Joy
Acts 13:52
(52) And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.
Conversion of the Lost Gives Joy to Believers
Acts 15:3
(3) And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Proper Priorities Produce Joy
Acts 20:24
(24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Reconciliation with God Through Atonement Produces Joy
Romans 5:11
(11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Believing Leads To Joy
Romans 15:13
(13) Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Abundance of Joy in Great Trial of Affliction
2 Corinthians 8:2
(2) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Joy Accompanies Sacrifice and Service
Philippians 2:17
(17) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
God's Joy Accompanies God's Testing
James 1:2
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Rejoice in Sufferings, For They Result in Exceeding Joy
1 Peter 4:13
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
