Finding Comfort In Christ’s Empathy

Try to imagine the range of emotions Jesus felt during his three-year ministry. There were so many extreme highs and lows.

One of the intriguing lows of Jesus’ ministry was the death of His friend Lazarus. As we know, this turned into quite the high after Jesus raised him from the dead. However, at the time, Jesus was in great sorrow.

“When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’”

John 11:32-36, ESV

Experiencing Sorrow in Ministry

A few years ago, while serving in Alaska, a family in our church lost their son to a tragic accident. I’ll never forget the first time I walked into their home following the event.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Scanning the room, I saw friends and family members holding onto one another and weeping over the loss. It was a terrible experience to see so many people in such pain.

Christ’s Humanity in Sorrow

Is this how Jesus felt as He surveyed the crowd of people mourning the loss of his friend, Lazarus?

When I read about the people weeping at the loss of their brother and friend and I see the words describe that Jesus “was deeply moved in spirit and troubled,” I am taken back to that moment, standing in the doorway of our friends’ home.

Jesus Understands Our Pain

If there was a passage that showed Christ’s humanity, this does it for me. Regardless of Lazarus’ resurrection, when I see that “Jesus wept,” I am filled with a sense that He truly does understand our earthly sorrow.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 4:15, ESV

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

Isaiah 53:3, ESV

Sure, maybe greater things were accomplished that day by raising Lazarus from the dead. However, from this account, I will always know that I have a Savior who has experienced this sorrow.

Join the Conversation: Share Your Thoughts

• How have you experienced sorrow?
• How has Jesus met you in your sorrow?