Jesus Wept — TDW Kids

Tears from the Son of God

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“Jesus wept” (John 11:35). At Bethany Jesus wept even though He knew He would wake Lazarus (John 11:11). The Bible shows God's heart for hurting people in other places too.

Tears over a city. Another time, as Jesus came near Jerusalem, “He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41). He said, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!” (Luke 19:42). Many people there would not welcome Him. Jesus cried over them because He wanted them to come to Him.

What He wanted for them. Jesus said the city did not know “the things that make for your peace.” He wanted to give them peace with God. His tears were an invitation, and He still invites everyone to come to Him.

He feels our sorrow. Isaiah wrote that in all the troubles of God's people He was troubled too, and in His love and pity He rescued them (Isaiah 63:9). God is not far away from our pain.

Carried by God. Isaiah also wrote that God lifted His people up and carried them all through the years of long ago (Isaiah 63:9). He did not leave them to carry their troubles alone.

Not glad to see us hurt. The book of Lamentations says that the Lord does not bring grief to people gladly, and that He shows compassion because His mercies are so great (Lamentations 3:32-33). God never enjoys our tears.

Made like us. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus was made like His brothers and sisters in every way, so that He could be a merciful and faithful High Priest. Because He suffered too, He is able to help us when we are tested (Hebrews 2:17-18).

A God who comes close. Is God far away and cold? No. The Bible shows a God who feels with His people, who carries them, and who sent His Son to share our sorrows.

What we learn. Jesus understands sadness from the inside. He never looks away from people who are hurting, and He wants every person to come to Him and find peace.

What to do. The next time you feel sad, remember that Jesus wept. Tell Him what hurts. He listens, and He cares.

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35). At Bethany Jesus wept even though He knew He would wake Lazarus (John 11:11). The same heart for hurting people shows up all through the Bible.

Tears for the unwilling (Luke 19:41-42). As He came near Jerusalem, “He saw the city and wept over it,” saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” He wept over people who would reject Him. His love for sinners is never cold.

The things that make for peace. Jesus had come to bring the city peace with God, and many would not receive it. His tears were not anger at them. They were the grief of a Savior whose invitation was being turned down.

Afflicted with them (Isaiah 63:9). Isaiah wrote that in all their affliction He was afflicted, and that in His love and in His pity He redeemed them. At Bethany that same compassion had a human face.

Lifted and carried (Isaiah 63:9). The same verse says that He bore His people and carried them all the days of old. God does not watch His people's troubles from a distance. He carries them through.

Not willingly (Lamentations 3:32-33). Lamentations, a book of sorrow over Jerusalem, says that even when the Lord brings grief, He will show compassion according to His many mercies, for He does not afflict willingly or grieve the children of men. Jesus' tears at Bethany show that same heart.

Made like His brethren (Hebrews 2:17-18). Hebrews teaches that Jesus had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, and that because He Himself suffered, He is able to help those who are tested. He knows our weakness from the inside.

Tears and faith. Does strong faith mean never crying? No. Jesus trusted His Father perfectly (John 11:41-42), and He wept. Sorrow and trust can live in the same heart.

Application. When you grieve, you are not praying to a Savior who does not understand. Bring Him your sorrow honestly. When you see someone else hurting, ask Jesus to give you His heart for them.

Weep with Those Who Weep

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When Lazarus died, “many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother” (John 11:19). They came to the house, they stayed with the sisters, and they wept with them (John 11:31, 33). God calls His people to comfort others in the same way.

Weep with those who weep. Paul wrote, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). When a friend is sad, God wants us to share the sadness, not run away from it.

Job's friends. When terrible troubles came to Job, three friends came to mourn with him and comfort him. They sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and no one said a word, because they saw how great his grief was (Job 2:11-13).

Being there matters. Later, Job's friends said many wrong things about God, and God told them so (Job 42:7). But the first thing they did was right. They came, and they stayed close.

A time to weep. The book of Ecclesiastes says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Sadness has its own time. We do not need to hurry a sad friend.

Comfort to share. Paul called God the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others with the same comfort He gave us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Godly people cried too. When Stephen died, devout men buried him and mourned greatly for him (Acts 8:2). Loving God and grieving a death can go together.

How to help. You do not need perfect words. Stay close to your friend. Listen. Cry with them if you feel sad too. Pray for them, or make them a card or a drawing.

Come close. At Bethany, Jesus came close to Mary and wept with her. Comfort starts by coming close.

When you are the sad one. If someone you love has died, it is okay to be sad for a long time. Tell a parent or another grown-up you trust. Tell Jesus too.

Joy is coming. A psalm says that people who sow in tears will reap with joy (Psalm 126:5). For everyone who trusts Jesus, tears do not get the last word. He is the resurrection and the life.

What to do. Think of someone who is sad right now. Pray for them today, and ask God to show you one kind thing you can do for them.

When Lazarus died, “many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother” (John 11:19). The Greek word for comfort is paramytheomai (say: pah-rah-moo-THEH-oh-my), to come alongside someone who is hurting and speak gently to them. The same word describes the friends who were “comforting her” in the house (11:31).

Weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Christians are not asked to fix every sorrow. They are asked to share it.

Seven quiet days (Job 2:11-13). When Job's three friends heard about his troubles, they came to mourn with him and comfort him. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none of them spoke, because they saw that his grief was very great.

Words that went wrong (Job 42:7). Later their long speeches blamed Job for his suffering, and God said they had not spoken of Him what was right. Their quiet coming, though, was a true kindness. Coming to a sad friend often helps more than having answers.

A time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Ecclesiastes says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. Grief has its own season, and love does not rush it.

Comforted to comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Paul blessed the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort others in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. What God gives you in sorrow becomes something you can give.

Mourning for Stephen (Acts 8:2). Devout men carried Stephen to his burial and mourned greatly over him. Godly people who trusted God still mourned openly. Hope and grief can both be true at the same time.

The way of Jesus. At Bethany Jesus came near, saw the weeping, was troubled and wept (John 11:33-35). He did not rush Mary to the end of the story, even though He knew the ending.

Practical comfort. Show up. Listen more than you talk. If your friend wants to talk about the person who died, listen. Pray. Offer something small and real: a note, a meal with your family, or an afternoon together.

When you grieve. If you have lost someone, tell a parent or another trusted adult, and tell the Lord. Grief that is shared is easier to carry.

Hope under the tears (Psalm 126:5). The psalm says that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the grief of His people is real, but it is not the end.

Application. Ask God to show you one person who is sad, and be the friend who comes and stays.

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