Martha & Mary of BethanySample

Mary & Martha: Jesus Weeps with You

In John 11:35, we find the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus wept." This brief statement reveals profound truth about Jesus’ empathy and love. When we lose someone dear, our hearts break, and our tears flow. We struggle with the emptiness and long for their presence. In the story of Lazarus, Jesus knew He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, yet He still wept. Mary and Martha had both expressed their grief, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (John 11:21,32). Jesus’ tears were not for Himself but were a deep expression of compassion for the pain of His friends. He felt their sorrow and shared in their heartbreak. Even though Jesus knew the outcome, He was moved by the distress of Mary, Martha, and their friends. Their grief touched Him deeply, demonstrating His profound empathy. The crowd remarked on His love, saying, "See how much he loved him!" (John 11:36b).

Jesus’ tears reveal a God who is not distant or indifferent but one who deeply feels our pain. This story challenges the view of God as detached or unfeeling. Instead, it shows a God who experiences and shares in our suffering, who rejoices with those who rejoice and weeps with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Perhaps you find yourself surrounded by grief and pain right now. I want you to grasp four crucial words today: Jesus. Weeps. With. You! His nature remains unchanged–He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Just as Jesus’ heart was broken in John 11, it breaks for you today. He is deeply moved by the suffering that sin brings into our lives, and He weeps alongside you. You are not alone in your sorrow. Jesus wept then, and He continues to weep with you now.

Written by HEIDI WYSMAN