Jesus Wept
Scripture Reading — John 11:32-45
Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" John 11:35-36
Did Jesus cry as a baby in a manger? A popular Christmas song states, "The little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes." But since we know babies cry at birth in order to get air into their lungs, Jesus surely cried.
New parents soon get used to the sound of their child's crying when the baby is hungry or needing a change of diapers--often this crying wakes the parents in the middle of the night! Crying is a normal part of life for babies.
The Bible doesn't tell us whether or not Jesus cried as a child, but it does say that he cried as an adult.
John 11 tells us that when his friend Lazarus died, Jesus went to visit his sisters as they mourned with friends and other community members. When he saw them weeping, "he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled," and "Jesus wept."
We know what it is like to shed tears. We know what it is like to face grief and loss, pain and sorrow in our lives--and to weep.
Jesus knows these things too. He knows and understands our grief and our sorrows.
What a gift it is that the God of the universe became a human who cries as we do, who understands our tears, and who has also promised that one day he will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).
Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. You became like us, and you know both our laughter and our tears. Thank you for the joy and comfort of knowing you love us. Amen.
About the author — Joel Sheeres
Rev. Joel Sheeres is the pastor at First Christian Reformed Church in Crown Point, Indiana. He and his wife, Christine, have three children. Pastor Sheeres has previously served at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Elmhurst, Illinois.
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