How “Jesus Wept” Is a Comfort

Today, I will be officiating a memorial service for one of the members of WBC – or should I say former member since this man has “graduated” to the presence of the Lord (II Cor 5:8). This is the 3^rd service I have officiated since my Dad died in August 2021.

Funerals and memorial services have taken on a new meaning to me since his death. When I stand on a stage, I know – in an empathetic way – what it is like to sit on the front row and be thinking about the loss of my loved one.

I know what I want to hear.

I want to be told that grieving is okay. I want to be reminded that God cares for me and will hear my complaint(s). I need to know that those who are in attendance love me and are praying for me. I long for those sweet hugs and words of compassion.

I have been helped over the past year with one of the shortest expressions in the Bible. It comes after Jesus lost a loved one to death. It is one of the 1^st verses we like to memorize because it is only 2 words in the English – “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

It is a comfort to know that the Creator and Savior and Resurrector wept for someone He knew would only be dead a few days. Those few days of separation from His friend hurt Him deeply.

Charles Spurgeon preached 2 whole sermons on these 2 words. He said, “There is infinitely more in these two words than any sermonizer, or student of the Word, will ever be able to bring out of them, even though he should apply the microscope of the utmost attentive consideration.”

Jesus was a tender friend. At this point Jesus was confronted with the reality of His dead friend and it led him to cry. Jesus was 100% man, which meant he experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sleep, sadness, joy, and sorrow. Jesus was not ashamed to be human. He was born of a woman, he nursed from his mother like other babies, he increased in knowledge (Luke 2:52), He experienced grief like others do. Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus as “…a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…”

It is comforting to know that if Jesus came to this memorial service today, He would be weeping with us. He is the Supreme Comforter (II Cor 1:3). And it is my prayer that He will be on full display today.