BreatheSample

As followers of Jesus, we often hear that He was fully God and man. And while we know that’s true, it doesn’t always sink in. At least the human part is sometimes hard for us to grasp! That’s where accounts of Jesus’ life like this one help. Here, Jesus has just learned that His friend, Lazarus, has passed. In the face of that grief, Jesus breaks down in a very human way. He weeps right alongside the others who are sad at the loss of someone they loved. He feels the full spectrum of His human emotions and breaks right down in the face of them.

What’s interesting is that the people around Him weren’t shocked or put off by this display. Rather, they recognized it as a sign of Jesus’ great love for His friend. They saw it as a sign of His humanity. If you know the full story, you know that Jesus knew what was going to happen—yet He still wept. So, when we wonder if we’re dealing with our feelings in a healthy way, if we’re not sure how to manage our emotions, or if we’re worried about expressing our feelings to others, we can remember that Jesus Himself set the example. In His human expression of His deepest feelings, we can see ourselves. He allowed Himself room to grieve. He allowed Himself room to feel sad, even if He knew this wasn’t the end of the story.

Take time today to read the full account of Lazarus’ passing in John 11. Pay attention to the way you see Jesus’ humanity and divinity in the story. And, of course, focus on what you can learn about expressing your feelings from Jesus here.