John 11:28-35 CSB
Having said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." [29] As soon as Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. [30] Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. [31] The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. They followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there. [32] As soon as Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and told him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died!" [33] When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, he was deeply moved in his spirit and troubled. [34] "Where have you put him?" he asked. "Lord," they told him, "come and see." [35] Jesus wept.
Compassion
Many grew up in an era defined by a specific type of “old school” stoicism. It was a time when children often heard the phrase, “big boys don’t cry.” Cultural heroes—from the grit of John Wayne to the silent protagonists of classic cinema—suggested that showing emotion was a sign of weakness. In those stories, the hero persevered and overcame without cracking, rarely showing any emotion unless it was a flash of self-righteous anger used to bring down a villain.
Life, however, is not a scripted television show. Everyone eventually experiences the weight of profound loss. Although those old cultural voices might whisper that one should remain unmoved, there are moments when the heart simply breaks and the body convulses with tears. As people age and witness the suffering around us, those tears often develop into a deep-seated empathy. We weep because we finally understand the depth of another person’s pain.
Consider how a loving parent reacts to the cry of their child. They drop everything to run, comfort, and protect an infant in distress. In the same way, tears are a gift from a loving Father. It is not healthy to keep grief bottled up; instead, tears can become a form of wordless prayer rising to a Father in Heaven who cares deeply for His children.
In this passage, we see this human need for comfort play out. Martha returns to Mary in private with the news: “The Teacher is here.” Mary immediately runs to the One who gives life. She is followed by friends and neighbors who, following the customs of the time, gathered to weep and offer strength at the gravesite.
When Jesus saw their weeping, the scripture says He was “deeply moved in his spirit and troubled.” While some scholars suggest Jesus was troubled by the lack of faith in the crowd, many believe this shortest sentence in the Bible—”Jesus wept”—serves as the ultimate example of divine sympathy. It is a kindness that rejects the harsh, inhuman coldness this world can breed in a person if they aren’t careful.
Even though Jesus knew the end of the story—that Lazarus would soon be raised to life—His spirit was still moved by the immediate, raw pain of those He loved. He did not lecture them on their grief; He joined them in it.
We have a Lord who cares for us. He is there in the middle of our weeping. Much like an older brother who protects and cares for those younger than him, Jesus stands as our protector and friend. We have a Savior who has suffered the same losses we do—a Savior who cares, and a Lord who loves humanity so much that He died to redeem our joy.
Reflection Questions
- How does the “old school” expectation of stoicism conflict with the image of Jesus weeping?
- When we see others in pain, do we offer them the quiet “ministry of presence” as Jesus did, or do we find ourselves trying to offer quick, cold fixes for their grief?
- Knowing that Jesus joins us in our tears, how does that change the way you view your own moments of sadness?
Prayer
Father,
We thank You that You are a God who is not distant from our pain. Thank You for the gift of tears and for the comfort of knowing that Jesus wept alongside those He loved. Help us to shed the masks of “strength” that keep us from Your grace. May we find peace in Your presence, knowing You are our protector and our Savior.
Amen.
