John 11:33-36: “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. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?’”
How can Jesus have full knowledge and understanding alongside deep emotion? He knows that Lazarus died. He knows how much Mary and Martha loved their brother. He knows the grief of those in the village so dear to him. He also knows the plan to resurrect Lazarus; and he knows the people are about to see a great miracle. His perfect knowledge does not negate his feeling.
Jesus weeps. The text says that he was deeply moved in his spirit. He grieves over the pain of his friends; he feels anger over the power of death; and yet he knows what he is about to do. Still, he weeps when Mary comes out to him, and he weeps again at the grave.
I think Jesus still weeps for us. Psalm 56 says that he collects our tears in a bottle. The Lord knows our pain, and he hurts for us even while he knows the good he will work in our pain and through our pain. We do not have a God who is distant and detached; we have a God who sent his Son to walk among us, to feel our emotions and to take the punishment we deserve.
Can you ask the Lord to give you his perspective of your pain? Can you allow him to show you his mercy, compassion, and goodness in the midst of your hurt? Through Jesus, we see that we have a God who cares about our pain.
Lord, thank you for your care and compassion. Help us to rest in that care and compassion during these difficult times.