That’s it. Two simple words. A sentence with more depth and meaning than hundreds of words could provide.
The perfect picture of humanity displayed in the words of the Bible. My Savior, Lord, Almighty King, the one true God with tears falling from his eyes.
This statement means more to me than words can ever express. This truth should comfort, encourage, and draw you closer to God.
First, John’s words connect me to God in a deeper, more personal, level. I know that he empathizes with me in my sorrows. He understands my pain and the release of my emotions and that expression in the form of tears. When I cry I know Jesus has been there. God can relate to me.
Secondly, I recognize the normalcy of allowing myself to feel and then expressing that openly. It’s o.k. to cry. Even if you are a man. Jesus was a man and he cried in front of friends and strangers. In this passage of scripture a friend of his, by the name of Lazarus, has been dead for four days and Jesus shows up to the village to be informed by Lazarus’s sister Martha, Jesus’s friend, of the details. When the other sister, Mary, shows up her friends follow her. Jesus weeps in front of them all. I don’t have to hide my feelings. Jesus didn’t.
Thirdly, the compassionate nature of God is revealed in verse 33 of John Chapter 11. “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Then he wept. Wow! Jesus was deeply moved by other’s pain and loss. He cared about what others cared about. This is the character of Christ. This encourages me and give me hope in my sorrows and sadness. I know he cares about what hurts and troubles me. He cares about the things that make me cry.
The Bible says “the word became flesh and dwelt among us.” God came down to meet us. God took on flesh and engaged in our humanity. He isn’t a God far off. He is near and he understands. “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.” Hebrews 4:15.
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