Oh the humanity...

"Jesus wept."

John 11:35

Here it is, the shortest verse in the Bible; yet we can learn a lot from these 2 words.  For it shows Jesus as a friend, a man, and someone who can relate to us on every level.

You may know the context.  Jesus was preaching in Bethany when word reach him that his friend Lazarus was sick.  When Jesus heard this, he said "This sickness is not unto death, but for the Glory of God that the Son of God might be glorified through it."  John 11:4.

Instead of leaving, he stayed for 2 more days where he was, and when he arrived Lazarus was already dead and in a tomb.  Mary said if only he had arrived sooner, Lazarus would not have died.  Jesus used this to announce that he is the resurrection and the life.  Now at the tomb, Jesus saw Mary weeping and the Jews who came with her, Jesus groaned in the spirit and was troubled.  And then "Jesus wept."

A real human emotion.  Crying for this man that he loved.  Weeping openly and then using this as an opportunity to glorify God.

From these 2 words, we see that:

-Jesus had a personal relationship with Lazarus.  A personal friendship that included care and love for another.

-It is natural and right for Christians to sympathize with others in their afflictions and hurts.  Romans 12:15; "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."

-Sorrow at the death of friends is not improper. It is right to weep.   It is OK to ask the God of compassion to heal our sorrow and hurt. 

-We see the humanity of Jesus.  We see a Lord who understands what we are going through.  Understands, because he himself has experienced it too.

There is nothing in our life that we have or will experience; No emotion that we exhibit; and no situation that we encounter that Jesus has not gone through or understood.  He can relate to us on every level because he experienced it also.  The more we seek a personal relationship with Jesus, the more we begin to be like him, to act like him, and understand him.

And that is a relationship I hope we all can have.