What I’m Thinking: Tears

What difference does it make that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, that he was moved by the grief of his friends, that he was moved by his own grief? Does it comfort? Reassure? Always? Sometimes? Never?

Here’s a transcript:

I’m thinking this week about the shortest verse in the Bible. When Jesus stood by the graveside of his friend Lazarus, he saw Lazarus’ sisters (Jesus’ friends) Martha and Mary weeping; he saw others weeping; and as King James’ translators rendered it so many years ago: “Jesus wept.”

Does it make a difference that the Incarnation of God felt so strongly as to weep at the graveside of one of our fellow human beings?

Sometimes I think it does, sometimes, I have to admit, I think it doesn’t.

But you know, it does comfort me just a little bit to know that the love of God is so deep and rich as to encompass human tears.

And I still trust that the One who said he was the Resurr3ection and the Life, and who did, after all, call Lazarus out of the tomb (that’s how we finish this story): his tears demonstrate that love and compassion that is enough to summon us from our graves at the fullness of time.

That’s what I’m thinking; I’m curious to hear about what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below!