Christ in Lamentations
Bro Charlie Chan | 8 November 2026 | Lamentations 3:22–23
"Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." — Lamentations 3:22–23
When Life Becomes a Story of Sorrow
When we read the Bible, we naturally enjoy reading the books that speak of God's blessings, victories, miracles, promises, and deliverance. We love Abraham's faith, Joseph's success, Moses leading Israel out of Egypt, David defeating Goliath, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But there is one book in the Bible that is filled almost entirely with sadness, grief, disappointment, and mourning — and mourning, remember, is beyond crying. That book is Lamentations.
Why should we study such a sorrowful book?
Because life is not always filled with victories. Sometimes life brings unexpected disappointments, sickness, bereavement, family problems, financial difficulties — and even spiritual failures. There are moments when we ask:
Why has this happened to me?
Where is God when I am suffering?
Why does God allow His people to experience difficulties?
Is there still hope when everything seems to have gone wrong?
The book of Lamentations speaks to people who have asked all of these questions. And even in its grief, it points us straight to Jesus Christ.
The Historical Background
Lamentations is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah. It describes the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 BC. To picture it, look at scenes from Gaza City today — the rubble, the shattered buildings — and you will have some semblance of what Jeremiah was weeping over.
Jerusalem, once the great city of David, had fallen.
The magnificent temple that Solomon had built — the place where God Himself had come to dwell — had been destroyed.
The walls of the city, which were meant to protect the people, had been broken down.
Many had died, and many of the survivors had been taken into captivity.
The people who once celebrated God's blessings were now living in humiliation and suffering. Why? Because Israel had repeatedly disobeyed God. They worshipped idols. They rejected His commandments. They ignored the warnings of His prophets. God had warned them again and again — but they refused to listen.
We must be careful about disobedience. The same attitude Jeremiah grieved over then — God's people hearing the warnings and refusing to listen — is still a danger among God's people today. How often do faithful teachers share from the Bible, and we quietly let it pass over us?
And yet, in the middle of this national tragedy, we hear a declaration that changes everything:
"Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22–23)
The city had fallen — but God's mercy had not disappeared.
The temple had been destroyed — but God's faithfulness remained.
The people had experienced suffering — but hope was still possible.
And hope alone is not enough. We must do something about it.
Where Do We See Christ in This Book?
Lamentations does not name Jesus. It does not explicitly identify a Messiah. But its descriptions of suffering, judgment, mercy, hope, and restoration connect with the wider biblical revelation that is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Three pictures of Christ rise out of this book.
1. Christ Is the Man of Sorrows
"Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which has been brought on me, which the LORD has inflicted in the day of His fierce anger." (Lamentations 1:12)
The first chapter of Lamentations describes Jerusalem as a suffering city. A city that once enjoyed prosperity, now experiencing humiliation and grief. The writer describes the loneliness of Jerusalem in words so haunting that they call to mind another familiar Old Testament passage:
"He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)
Who is Isaiah describing? The suffering Servant — whose suffering finds its ultimate fulfilment in Jesus Christ. Jesus came into this world knowing His mission would involve rejection, suffering, and ultimately death on the cross. "Crucify Him, crucify Him," the crowd cried — and from the cross He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." He died there for our sins.
Let us consider three occasions when Jesus demonstrated His sorrow.
A. Jesus Wept Over the Death of His Friend Lazarus
John 11:35 gives us one of the shortest but most powerful verses in all of Scripture:
"Jesus wept."
Some say we should not cry at funerals. But Jesus Himself wept. He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead — and yet He still wept. Why? Because He understood human grief. He understood the pain of those who lose someone they love. He did not treat their sorrow lightly. If you have not walked through pain and sorrow yourself, you may not yet fully understand. But Jesus did.
B. Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem
Luke 19:41–44 tells us that Jesus wept over Jerusalem — because the people had failed to recognise the time of God's visitation. He knew the consequences of their rejection. His tears demonstrated His compassion, and His deep desire for people to turn towards God.
C. Jesus Experienced Sorrow in Gethsemane
Matthew 26:37–38 tells us that Jesus was deeply sorrowful as He approached the cross. So sorrowful that His sweat fell like drops of blood. He understood the tremendous suffering that lay ahead of Him. And yet He remained obedient to the Father's will.
What Can Christians Learn From This?
First, suffering is not foreign to the Christian experience. It is nothing new. At some point in our lives, we will go through suffering too.
Second, Jesus understands our weaknesses and sorrows. Sometimes people say, "You don't understand me." But Jesus is different — He understands.
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
Third, we must learn to show compassion to others. Sometimes people who are suffering do not need long explanations. Think of Job's three friends, who heaped words on a man who had lost everything — words that only wounded him more. Suffering people need someone who will listen, care, and encourage them. The words can be said at another time.
Practical Application
When someone in our congregation loses a loved one, becomes seriously ill, or experiences family difficulties, let us not merely say, "I will pray for you." There is nothing wrong with that line — but Christian love demands more than words. Pray for them on the spot. Gather a few brothers and sisters, and pray together. Right there, right then.
And let us demonstrate Christian love in our actions too:
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)
Remember — the word Christian carries the name of Christ. Jesus understands our sorrows, and His followers must learn to care for those who suffer. Many of our members are already practising this beautifully. Whatever good we do — let us do more of it.
2. Christ Bears Our Sins
"The LORD is righteous, for I rebelled against His commandment. Hear now, all peoples, and behold my sorrow." (Lamentations 1:18)
Here is a vital spiritual principle. Jerusalem was suffering — but the writer recognised that the people had rebelled against God. Their suffering was connected to their persistent disobedience.
God had sent prophets to warn them.
God had given them His commandments.
God had patiently called them to repentance.
But they continued in rebellion. And eventually, judgment came.
This is the fallen nature of human beings. And it teaches us that sin is serious.
Sometimes people want God's blessings — but they do not want to obey His commandments. They want His protection — but reject His authority. They want forgiveness — but are unwilling to repent. We must understand that God's love does not mean He ignores sin. This is why He sent His Son to die on the cross.
A. Sin Separates Us From God
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1–2)
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Jerusalem's destruction reminds us that disobedience has consequences. But there is something wonderful about the message of the Bible. God did not leave humanity without hope.
B. Jesus Came to Bear Our Sins
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
"who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
Think about that for a moment. Jerusalem suffered because of its rebellion. But Jesus, who was without sin, willingly suffered for the sins of others. The innocent Son of God suffered for guilty humanity. He did not die because of His own wrongdoing. He died to provide the way for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God.
C. What Must We Do in Response?
We must never take the sacrifice of Jesus lightly. John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…" We never earned that gift. It was given at the highest cost.
"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3–4)
Christianity is not simply about receiving forgiveness. It is also about living a transformed life.
Practical Application
Examine our lives regularly.
Repent when we recognise sin.
Do not make excuses for disobedience.
Appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus.
Remain faithful to God's Word.
Jesus said it plainly: "If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)
We cannot appreciate the cross of Christ unless we recognise the seriousness of our sins. At the cross, at the cross — where we first saw the light, and the burden of our heart rolled away.
3. Christ Reveals God's Unfailing Mercy and Faithfulness
Now we come to the heart of the sermon.
"Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22–23)
This is probably the most encouraging passage in all of Lamentations.
Imagine Jeremiah looking at the ruins of Jerusalem. He could see destruction everywhere. He could see the consequences of Israel's disobedience. He could see the suffering of his people. And yet — instead of allowing despair to control his thinking — he remembered something important.
God's mercy had not ended.
Three truths stand out.
A. God's Mercy Is the Reason We Are Not Consumed
The people deserved judgment because of their rebellion. Yet God did not completely destroy them. He preserved and continued His purpose for His people.
God's mercy does not mean that sin has no consequences. It means that God is compassionate and gracious, providing opportunities for repentance and restoration.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4–5)
B. God's Compassion Never Fails
Human beings sometimes disappoint us.
Friends may leave us.
People may break their promises.
Circumstances may change.
But God's character does not change.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
There is a chorus we sing — "All may change, but Jesus never. Glory to His name." Our circumstances may change. But Christ remains faithful.
C. God's Mercies Are New Every Morning
Every morning brings another opportunity to experience God's goodness. Thank God for yesterday. Thank God for this morning. Thank God for today. Every single morning is another opportunity for renewal. Be grateful.
Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. God provided manna daily. They had to depend upon Him day by day. They could not store up yesterday's bread for today — it would spoil.
Likewise, Christians must learn to depend upon God every day. We should not live only on yesterday's faith. We need today's commitment, today's prayer, today's obedience. Old people sometimes talk only about the achievements of the past — but we must think about today.
Practical Application
Begin each day with thanksgiving. God has blessed me with this life. Use it to the fullest.
Do not allow yesterday's failures to destroy today's hope. What is past is past. Look forward.
Be patient with others — because God has been patient with us.
Remain faithful even when circumstances are difficult.
An Illustration
Imagine a Christian who wakes up each morning facing uncertainty. Perhaps there are health concerns. Family difficulties. Personal disappointments. He may not know what the day will bring.
But he can begin the day with this assurance:
"God has not abandoned me. His mercy is still available. His faithfulness has not changed."
That is the confidence we learn from Lamentations. We may not have everything we desire — but every morning, we have another reason to thank God for His mercy.
Take This Home
Lamentations is a book of tears — but every tear in it points to Jesus Christ. In this ancient song of sorrow, we meet:
The Man of Sorrows — who understands every grief we carry.
The sinless Saviour — who bore the sins we could not carry ourselves.
The faithful God — whose mercies are new every single morning.
Wherever you are today — in victory or in ruin, in celebration or in ashes — God's mercy has not run out. His compassion has not failed. His faithfulness is still great. And tomorrow morning, when the sun rises, it will all be new again.
Rise up and thank Him. Rise up and obey Him. Rise up and walk in the newness of life that the cross made possible. Because even when everything around us falls, the LORD is our portion, says my soul — "therefore I hope in Him." (Lamentations 3:24)
