Jesus Wept

“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35 (NIV)

Arise and shine, dear one! God is with you!

This verse probably seems like a very odd choice for a devotional this week, especially with Thanksgiving and the holidays coming up, but it’s one that tenderly reflects the heart of our Savior. (For the Bible trivia nerds, you may recognize John 11:35 as the shortest verse in the Bible…or if asked to memorize a verse, it was the easiest choice!)

It may be the shortest verse, but it is by far not insignificant. In John 11, we see that Lazarus, a dear friend of Jesus, has died, but clearly, He knows what’s going to happen next…He’s going to raise Lazarus from the dead. As Jesus encounters Mary and Martha, they are weeping and wailing as they mourn the death of their brother. Jesus sees their pain and sorrow. In the New Living Translation, John 11:33 reads “When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.”

We have a God who empathizes with us. Jesus noticed the pain that death caused in the lives of those He loved, and it angered Him. He was moved to tears as He saw their sorrow, even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.

As you gather around your table this Thanksgiving, you may be missing a loved one that’s not there this year. If you’re walking through a difficult season right now, remember that Jesus sees your pain. He knows your tears and He cares.

What’s been troubling you lately, dear one? Are you grieving a heartbreaking loss or is someone close to you suffering and like Jesus, you empathize with their pain? Take a moment and cry out to your Savior. He loves you more than you can ever grasp.