Day 47: He cried. He wept. For us.

Read: John 11:28-44

I have seen my mother shed tears for other people more than I have ever seen her shed for herself. She tears up over news stories, over facebook posts, for friends, for my siblings, for my dad, and for anyone she hears is hurting. I have seen her shed tears for me. There have only been rare occasions though where I have seen her cry for her own pain. She takes on other’s pain. She loves with her whole heart. As a mother she has loved me so well. 

Almost my whole life I have struggled with mental illness. As I have endured a lot of pain, my mother has constantly been at my side bearing the pain with me. She has hurt along with me. Having someone who just came along side of me and empathized with my pain meant so much. She didn’t just say that she was sorry I was going through all of this, but she went through it with me. Having a mother who showed so much unconditional love towards me has greatly impacted how I see myself. Having a God that does the same means even more.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus knew Lazarus was going to live again. Christ knew He was the one that was going to raise him from the dead. He knew their pain would be over soon. He knew everything was going to be okay. Yet when Mary came to Him, falling at His feet, eyes full of tears, and overwhelmed with grief, He wept. He took on her pain. He shed tears for her. 

He saw all of the pain His people were going through. Verse 33 says, “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” Our God takes on our pain. He goes through trials with us. He can see the end. He knows what happens. Even when He knows everything will eventually be fine, He is still with us in the pain. He is with us in the hurting.

This display of emotion displays His love for us. He treasures and adores us. Crying is often seen as a weakness. But Jesus, our God, cried. This simple two-word voice holds incredible power. We don’t have to bare pain or trials alone; we have a God who never leaves us. He has emotions. He has empathy for His people. The God of the universe cares deeply for us. He was troubled. He cried. He wept. For us. 

We can go to God with our pain. We can cry out to Him. He is not just sympathetic to our pain. He isn’t just sorry we are going through that. He feels it with us. He knows our pain. He understands. We are not alone and we will never be alone.

Take a piece of paper. Write the verse “Jesus wept” (John 11:35), down on the piece of paper. Make it look pretty if you want. Hang it on your wall, mirror, or just somewhere where you’ll see it everyday. Meditate on the significance of those two words. When you are struggling or hurting, gaze on those words and remember you aren’t alone.