John 11:35
Jesus wept.

It is such a simple statement, and yet it says so much about our Lord. There will be difficult times in our lives. There will be sad times. There will be times when our hearts break and our lives seem to crumble around us. Our emotions are ingrained within us, and it is okay for us to cry. The sting of death hits our lives, and even though we may know our loved one is in heaven, the pain of losing them can seem unbearable.

Jesus is our pattern and example to follow in our own lives. And the touching scene of Lazarus’ death gives us a special insight into the heart of our Savior. He was not a callous God come to Earth simply to fulfill His duty and depart. He genuinely cared very deeply for the people He spent time with. As we make friends and draw close to people around us, we can’t help but care about them. We form bonds and establish a closeness that enjoins our lives in a special way.

Jesus’ life exhibited true empathy, something that we can learn to apply to our own lives. He mourned for His friend, but He also felt the pain of Mary and Martha. He connected with them on an emotional level and sympathized for them and sorrowed with them. We may do well to tap into the emotional lives of those around us, to establish connections with others on a personal emotional level. We’re not just bystanders watching other people live their lives, but we can be actively involved with them.

One thing the Bible reveals about the character of Jesus was that He was genuine. He wasn’t a far-off God looking down upon others. He was in the midst of His people. He wasn’t doing things for the show of it. He genuinely wanted to help, to meet needs, to show love, to be involved in the lives of others. His heart broke just as surely as ours do. He cried just as we do. He felt pain as deep and real as our own. He understands our grief and sorrow.

When we lose someone close to us, it is okay to grieve. It’s okay to cry and weep and wail. That’s real human emotion. It’s a part of us all. It’s a step in the process and a sign of our love and emotional depth. There’s no need to be afraid or ashamed of expressing how we feel, of exhibiting a vulnerable side. Jesus did. Romans 12:15 says to rejoice with them that rejoice and weep with them that weep, so let’s allow ourselves to share our emotions with those we love.