33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 "Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
“O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free! Rolling as a mighty ocean In its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, Is the current of Thy love, Leading onward, leading homeward, To my glorious rest above! O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Spread His praise from shore to shore! How He loveth, ever loveth, Changeth never, never more! How He watches o’er His loved ones, Died to call them all His own; How for them He intercedeth, Watcheth o’er them from the throne! O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Love of ev’ry love the best! ‘Tis an ocean full of blessing, ‘Tis a haven giving rest! O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ‘Tis a heav’n of heav’ns to me; And it lifts me up to glory, For it lifts me up to Thee!” Samuel Trevor Francis
In our verses for today, we see Jesus moved with empathy and compassion toward the sorrowing of those He loved showing forth the humanity of our Lord as well as the power to sympathize with His people through His tears - the precious dew of heavenly comfort. Our Savior is certainly as able to feel as He is able to save. I am reminded of the words prophesized by the prophet Isaiah regarding our Lord:
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:2-3 (NIV)
Surely no one could refute a “spirit of despair” among the sisters and those who had come to comfort them. Enters our Lord on the scene – “a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering” – coming to comfort and unbeknownst to them, put an end to their grieving as well. Jesus can be touched with feelings for our infirmities and possesses a perfect and thorough understanding of our tears. Certainly there is nothing that ministers more to us when we are distraught and weeping than to have another come alongside and simply weep with us – bearing and sharing our burdens lessens our grief. Paul tells us in Romans this is how we are to show empathy towards another:
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 (NIV)
There is such a depth of tender sympathy in our Savior’s heart. Troubled and groaning in spirit from the sight of Mary and her Jewish comforters weeping, our Lord wept even though He was fully aware the circumstances were on the brink of changing – demonstrating how much His heart is inclined to empathize with us. We have a great High Priest in heaven Who not only continually intercedes for us, but also One who is able to sympathize in all our weaknesses. The writer of Hebrews tells us:
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Heb 4:14-16 (NIV)
Jesus was well aware that this sorrowing was moments away from turning into joy and that Lazarus was about to be restored to his sisters. Yet rather than being cold, stoic and unmoved by the sight of sorrow, He demonstrates loving grace through a tender heart and a sympathizing spirit.
“We learn the great practical lesson from this verse, that there is nothing unworthy of a Christian in tears. There is nothing unmanly, dishonourable, unwise, or feeble, in being full of sympathy with the afflicted, and ready to weep with them that weep...We may draw great comfort from the thought that the Saviour in whom we are bid to trust is One who can weep...Sympathy is not sinful, but Christ-like...Let us strive to be men and women of a tender heart and a sympathizing spirit.” J. C. Ryle
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matt 5:4 (NIV)