“Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’” (John 11:35-36)

I came across this song the other day titled “Jesus Cries.” Those two words immediately grabbed my attention. When I ponder my own great dismay in life, knowing that Jesus cries with me is enough for that moment in time. Unlike the usual tendency to want to find a solution to problems, when someone cries with you in your suffering, it is an intensely powerful sentiment of deep love.

In this portion of scripture Lazarus, “he whom Jesus loved” was found sick (John 11:3). Jesus, knowing all things and the whereabouts of all people, because He was God in the flesh Himself, knew also that Lazarus wasn’t only sick, but He knew the exact moment he died. “Then Jesus said to them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead’” (John 11:14).

Jesus, being the perfect definition of Love itself, must have known how difficult it was for Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, whom Jesus spent quite some time with. He was acquainted with their sorrows (Isaiah 53:3).

The sisters who loved Lazarus dearly, who had seen and believed in Jesus’ miracles, questioned why He wasn’t there to stop their brother from dying (Luke 11:21,32). Parts of grief will cause you to question God and His timing. Even when you know you can trust Him, the grieving heart is barely holding on by a thread.

Later in the story, Jesus does a miracle. But before He does, Jesus does something that still to this day means more to millions of people in their hour of weakness, heartbreak, suffering, grief, loss, or pain. “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’” (John 11:35-36).

In moments of sorrow, our human frailty can succumb to doubt God’s love for us. Perhaps Mary and Martha thought to themselves, “Why did our brother have to die?” Or perhaps they thought, “Jesus, You know all things and everything is in Your power. Why didn’t You save our brother?”

Jesus is not unfamiliar with the questioning we often wrestle with in our own hearts. Nor does He ignore our pain. Jesus reminds us all that the solution to pain isn’t fixing it, but dealing with it by releasing it from our hearts through tears to a loving God. Jesus loved them all so much.

When a friend cries for you and shares your sorrow, you know how much love they really have for you. Very often others can resort to trying to fix our problems for us. Perhaps you, yourself, have that tendency when you are in a crisis. But unlike God, we fall short to give our hearts what it needs. We need to allow our pain to make its way through our soul and over to Jesus.

If you feel alone today, friend, know that when you are weeping, Jesus weeps too.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

In my grief, I fall short to see Your plan. Help me to feel Your presence even when I don’t understand. Embrace me with Your love today.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.