"Jesus Wept." Why?
/Mary and Martha, friends of Jesus, sent word to Him that their brother Lazarus was sick. They were hoping Jesus would come and heal their brother, but to their disappointment, Jesus deliberately did not come until a few days later, after Lazarus had died. When Jesus finally arrived Mary said to Him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping...he was deeply moved." John 11:33. After seeing where Lazarus had been laid to rest we are told that, "Jesus wept." When Jesus first heard the news of Lazarus's sickness he said to His disciples, "This sickness will not end in death." John 11:4. So if Jesus knew in His mind that he would heal or raise Lazarus from the dead, why did He weep? I believe He wept because of the broken hearts of Mary and Martha. When our daughter, Crystal, died several years ago, I knew she went to heaven. I knew that I would see her again and when I did it would be forever. Yet, my heart was broken because she was gone. I do not feel that Jesus expected me to just "get over the loss" because we knew where Crystal was and that we would some day be reunited with her. Just as Jesus wept with his friends, Mary and Martha, He wept with us and He weeps with broken hearted parents today, because the Bible reminds us:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles..." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
I have found in my ministry to grieving parents that perhaps the most valuable thing I can give to them is not my words of encouragement or words of comfort but my tears.