Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept (John 11:35).

I am a rather emotional person. Tears flow, sometimes, at the most inconvenient moments. I’ve spent years trying to control, uncontrollable tears. I have felt embarrassed, and weak, because of my emotions. Recently, during one of my more sensitive times, I began searching the Bible for some supernatural way to help me become a ‘stronger’ person. What I found is what has to be one of the shortest verses in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35). This verse inspired me to keep digging through the Bible about Jesus showing His emotions. I found more than I thought I would. The Bible tells us Jesus cried with loud cries, and tears, in prayer (Hebrews 5:7). He cried over his beloved city, Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37). One of Jesus’, most famous teachings called the ‘Be Attitudes’ reads, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4).

It’s pretty obvious that His heart ached, from the pain of others. Another example, I read about, can be found in Luke 7: 11-15. Luke writes about a time when Jesus saw a funeral in progress. The funeral was for a child. The dead child’s mom had suffered loss before, because we learn that she was already a widow. When Jesus saw she was grieving, "his heart went out to her" and He comforted her. But that wasn’t all He did. He then went to the coffin, and touched it, saying "Young man, I say to you, get up!" And the boy did. It was a miracle!

There is a similar story, about life and death, in the gospel of John. Jesus had a lot of friends. Three of his closest, was a brother and his two sisters, Lazarus, Mary and Martha. The Bible tells us about a time when Lazarus became deathly sick. As I would expect, the sisters sent a message to Jesus. “Come”, they said. “We need you desperately. It’s urgent.” When Jesus received their message, he said, “God will be glorified and honored in all of this.”

When Jesus arrived, several days later, it was too late. Martha, in tears, ran out to meet Jesus. She cried out, “If you had been here, my brother would still be alive!” Jesus responded, "Your brother will rise again." I think most of us can relate to difficult times, when someone, we care about, says something that just does not help, in fact, makes us question our friendship with them. I think this may have been one of those times for Martha. The Bible tells us she said back to Jesus, “I understand that will happen in the resurrection much later.” The operative words I hear are ‘much later.’

Jesus proves Himself, to not only be their friend, but also their Savior. "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" He asked Martha. Martha answers, "Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world." Martha confirms her faith, with her words, and also with her next action.

We read how Martha went to her sister, Mary, and told her to go see Jesus. In response, Mary ran to Jesus, falling in grief at Jesus’ feet. We read that Jesus’ "was deeply moved in spirit, and troubled."

Jesus followed Mary and Martha to their brother’s grave, where Jesus wept. He grieved with them. He understood their pain. Christ was "familiar with suffering" (Isaiah 53:3).

Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" And his friend rose from the grave. Another miracle!

Then we read several pages later, how Jesus the Healer is now dead - betrayed, arrested, tortured, and murdered on a cross. Christ is buried. How can this be? The answer is profound.

Three days later, Jesus Christ rises from the dead and shows Himself to his closest friends. Most of us fear death, at one time or another. Even people, who I know, whose faith is strong, admit to the unknown aspects of death, can be a bit disturbing. Jesus conquered death. I said earlier, the answer to how Jesus, the great Healer, could be tortured and murdered, is profound, because through an empty tomb, we can now all find hope, past the grave. Jesus Christ is alive! I don’t doubt this. I also believe that death will never again touch Him. We too will see our closest friends, and family members, we’ve lost in this life, because of Christ. I admit, it’s a bit difficult for me to be able to completely wrap my mind around this ageless truth. But I do know that because of Christ, we can grieve with hope. "Therefore, encourage each other with these words" (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

So when you feel the tears well up in your eyes, and or in your heart, from whatever loss you may be feeling, please realize, with me, that to know Christ, is to be able to hold on to the hope, we are given as believers, of the resurrection power. He will raise us up from the death of our dreams, and relationships, and ultimately ourselves. From this hope, we can live, and love, courageously. So let’s agree to not feel embarrassed, or ashamed, from our emotions. After all, Jesus, the greatest Warrior of all, who conquered death, cried, and that, makes me smile.