HURTING FOR OTHERS

John 11:35 Jesus wept.

EMPATHY…is the power of understanding and imaginatively entering into another person’s feelings. In other words, HURTING FOR OTHERS is empathy. So here we go.

I have heard more times than I could care to count that John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the entire bible. But you see, in the effort to rationalize this verse, the most important lesson can easily be missed: When Jesus wept means more than just tears of sympathy. HIS TEARS SAYS, YOUR PAIN IS MY PAIN. But let’s get the basis of this story.

They are a family of THREE SINGLE ADULTS; the two sisters, Mary and Martha and Lazarus, their brother. They are known to Jesus personally. And yes, Lazarus who is loved by Jesus is lying down in his sickbed. Word is sent out to Jesus that his friend needs him. Instead of going there in time to touch and heal him, he delays on purpose. Oh yes, he was very much aware that Lazarus could soon be dead. Yet when he finally got there, with Lazarus already in the tomb, he wept. For a long time, I was puzzled by this scenario. Why?