It is the shortest verse in the Bible, two words long. Yet it may tell us more about the heart of God than many of the longer ones.
The Scene
Lazarus had died. Jesus arrived four days late, and both his sisters met Him with the same sentence: if You had been here, my brother would not have died. When Jesus saw Mary weeping and the people weeping with her, the Gospel says “he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” (v. 33) Then He asked where they had laid him, and Jesus wept.
Why Would He Weep?
Here is what makes this verse so striking. Jesus knew exactly what He was about to do. Moments later He would stand at the tomb and say, “Lazarus, come forth.” He knew the grief would be reversed within minutes. And still He wept.
That tells us that tears are not a sign of weak faith. Jesus did not scold Mary for crying, and He did not rush past her pain to get to the miracle. He entered it. The crowd saw it and said, “Behold how he loved him!” (v. 36)
A High Priest Who Feels It
This is the Saviour we have: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) He is not distant from your sorrow. He is not waiting for you to pull yourself together before you come to Him.
And the story does not end at the weeping. Jesus said to Martha, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (v. 40) Grief and hope were in that place together. The same Jesus who wept also called Lazarus out of the grave. He is able to be tender and powerful at once.
Something to carry today: If you are grieving something right now, you do not have to hide it from Jesus. Bring Him the tears as they are. He has been to the graveside before, and He is not embarrassed by your sorrow.
Lord Jesus, thank You that You wept. Thank You that You are not far from my pain and do not rush me through it. I bring You what I am carrying today. Be near to me, comfort me, and strengthen my faith to trust You in the waiting. In Your name, Amen.