The shortest verse in the Bible perhaps says the most about Christ’s empathy for us – His love for us – His identification with us. It is a verse that mines the depths of God’s compassion, concern, kindness, sympathy, and support for us – His understanding of us – His encouragement toward us – and His fellowship with us. Jesus Wept. 

Jesus cried over the death of his friend Lazarus, and raised him to life in full view of an astonished crowd of family and neighbors. Jesus cried over Jerusalem and its sinful, wayward, going-to-crucify-Him people; and Jesus longed to gather these people to Him like a hen gathers her chicks under her wing. (John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Matthew 23:37)

Jesus completely empathizes with our suffering, and offers mercy and grace to help us. Our Lord is “near to the broken-hearted.” He is a God of compassion who “comforts us in all our troubles.” (Hebrews 4:14-16; Psalm 34:18; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

This is great! This is what we want! This is what we need. But, let’s not stop there. Isn’t compassion what we long for from family, friends, and just about everyone we meet? Isn’t it awful when someone knows we are feeling sad, hurt or angry, but just blows off our sorrow, or doesn’t care? Isn’t it a relief when others weep with us?  

Jesus talked about this in a story he told to an upstanding religious expert who wanted Jesus to confirm that he was a good guy who had his ticket punched for eternal life. This man could quote the supreme commandments given by Moses: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus had said that all other laws hang on these two.

So Jesus tells this leader a story about a traveler who had been robbed and beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. In the story, religious people ignore the man and pass on by – perhaps because the wounded traveler wasn’t from their community and they couldn’t feel his pain; perhaps because they felt blameless. Instead, it was a despised Samaritan man who shared in the injured man’s suffering and did what he could to provide healing. Jesus supplied the punchline for all who hear this story. “Go and do likewise.” 

Friends, everyone is our neighbor.

Let us weep with those who weep, and then do what we can to help.

God bless you!

Donna