The shortest verse in the entire Bible was included in our message on Sunday in John 11:35:
Jesus wept.
This is one of those moments where I wish I could have been there, to truly see it for myself. It would have been heartbreaking to see Jesus in this emotional pain, but it also would have been, as Pastor Manny said, “comforting” to know that He experienced this kind of emotion.
How is it that seeing Jesus so uncomfortable would have brought me so much comfort?
Because it is rare out of all the religions and all the gods that have been manufactured and falsely believed in over time to see a “God who weeps.” That is our God. He is real, and right, and true.
Like this familiar song from Matt Redman, “Son of Suffering” that we sing on Sundays, the lyrics ring true of this moment with Jesus:
The blood and tears
How can it be?
There's a God who weeps
There's a God who bleeds
Oh, praise the One
Who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of suffering
Seeing Jesus weep would mean that He is truly who He says He is in Hebrews 4:15:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (NIV)
Not only does He empathize with our temptation to sin, but He deeply empathizes with every human emotion we experience. He came down to earth for a purpose, yet in that purpose he bled, and wept, and felt our pain.
In John 11, we see Jesus experience anger, deep frustration, anguish, sadness, depression, and heartache. He moves through these emotions without trying to push them away — oh how I can learn a thing or two from Jesus in this moment!
I often try to push down, distract, or numb the emotions that well up inside of me. It is much harder to sit with them, feel them, and know that having these emotions does not cancel out my hope.
It’s amazing to truly think about the fact that God sent Jesus down not just to die, but also to experience life with the people around Him. To love on Lazarus, Mary, and Martha…and to love them so deeply that He would feel the pain of death alongside them.
I was struck by this verse in the middle of the scene said by the Jews around Him:
“See how he loved him!” (John 11:36, NIV)
You could take that verse and replace it with your own name to truly grasp what He has done for you.
“See how He loved me!”
It’s true dear friend, His love for you runs so deep — deep enough that He would lay down His life, and in the process, experience all the human emotions that go with it.
I, for one, am really comforted by the fact that we serve a “God who weeps.” It is unique to Christ, unique to His person and His Godhood. Next time you find yourself in a conversation about the other gods people believe in, you can plant this seed by gently asking: Did your god weep? Did he bleed? Did he lay down his life?
These things matter. They show us the heart and character of our God. If anything, I hope that you carry the truth with you this week that no matter what you are going through, know that He can deeply empathize with it.
He knows. Not only that, He has felt it. He feels alongside you. Maybe if we spent less time trying to push away our feelings, we could get better at sitting with those feelings at the feet of Jesus. I think eventually, Mary realized that this is what needed to happen as she left the house and ran to Jesus. May we run to Him too, no matter what we feel. He is waiting with open arms.
Jesus wept.
This is one of those moments where I wish I could have been there, to truly see it for myself. It would have been heartbreaking to see Jesus in this emotional pain, but it also would have been, as Pastor Manny said, “comforting” to know that He experienced this kind of emotion.
How is it that seeing Jesus so uncomfortable would have brought me so much comfort?
Because it is rare out of all the religions and all the gods that have been manufactured and falsely believed in over time to see a “God who weeps.” That is our God. He is real, and right, and true.
Like this familiar song from Matt Redman, “Son of Suffering” that we sing on Sundays, the lyrics ring true of this moment with Jesus:
The blood and tears
How can it be?
There's a God who weeps
There's a God who bleeds
Oh, praise the One
Who would reach for me
Hallelujah to the Son of suffering
Seeing Jesus weep would mean that He is truly who He says He is in Hebrews 4:15:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (NIV)
Not only does He empathize with our temptation to sin, but He deeply empathizes with every human emotion we experience. He came down to earth for a purpose, yet in that purpose he bled, and wept, and felt our pain.
In John 11, we see Jesus experience anger, deep frustration, anguish, sadness, depression, and heartache. He moves through these emotions without trying to push them away — oh how I can learn a thing or two from Jesus in this moment!
I often try to push down, distract, or numb the emotions that well up inside of me. It is much harder to sit with them, feel them, and know that having these emotions does not cancel out my hope.
It’s amazing to truly think about the fact that God sent Jesus down not just to die, but also to experience life with the people around Him. To love on Lazarus, Mary, and Martha…and to love them so deeply that He would feel the pain of death alongside them.
I was struck by this verse in the middle of the scene said by the Jews around Him:
“See how he loved him!” (John 11:36, NIV)
You could take that verse and replace it with your own name to truly grasp what He has done for you.
“See how He loved me!”
It’s true dear friend, His love for you runs so deep — deep enough that He would lay down His life, and in the process, experience all the human emotions that go with it.
I, for one, am really comforted by the fact that we serve a “God who weeps.” It is unique to Christ, unique to His person and His Godhood. Next time you find yourself in a conversation about the other gods people believe in, you can plant this seed by gently asking: Did your god weep? Did he bleed? Did he lay down his life?
These things matter. They show us the heart and character of our God. If anything, I hope that you carry the truth with you this week that no matter what you are going through, know that He can deeply empathize with it.
He knows. Not only that, He has felt it. He feels alongside you. Maybe if we spent less time trying to push away our feelings, we could get better at sitting with those feelings at the feet of Jesus. I think eventually, Mary realized that this is what needed to happen as she left the house and ran to Jesus. May we run to Him too, no matter what we feel. He is waiting with open arms.
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.