He Cried Too

There is a story in the Bible of a man named Lazarus. 
We don't know a lot about this man,
but we do know that Jesus loved him.  

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
John 11:3 (NIV, emphasis mine) (also see verse 5)

I don't think that his sisters were referring to Jesus' divine character of love toward all, but to a special love for a dear friend.  It appears that Jesus had a special friendship with Lazarus. 

Before I go on, here's a quick side note.
Something that I find to be very important when reading the Gospels and learning about the life of Jesus is that although the general public, the religious leaders, and even the disciples were often confused about WHO Jesus was or WHAT He was able to do - Jesus was never confused! 
Jesus KNEW He was God and He understood the power and authority that He possessed.

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
Then Jesus came to them and said,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Matthew 28:17 (NIV, emphasis mine)

. . . He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm.
“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. 
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this?
He commands even the winds and the water,
and they obey him.”
Luke 8:24b-25 (NIV, emphasis mine)

Ok, so back to Lazarus. 
If you continue to read in John chapter 11, you find out that Lazarus dies before Jesus gets there.

There are two things that happen in this story that seriously blow me away, and they might not be what you think.

First -
When Jesus is headed to Bethany where Lazarus and his sisters live,
He knows that Lazarus is dead AND
He knows that He is going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

It is clear however that the disciples do not understand Jesus' plans (see John 11:12 & 16) and when He arrives in Bethany it is clear that Mary and Martha are hurt by his delay, heartbroken by the loss of their brother, and completely unaware of Jesus' plan to return their brother to them, alive and well. (see John 11:17-32)

Ok, so here's where it really gets me! 

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  “Where have you laid him?” he asked
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
John 11:33-35 (NIV)

I am overwhelmed, even as I type those words I've read so many times.  Did you catch it?!  Do you understand what this means!?

It means that my Jesus, my precious Savior, Author and Perfecter of my faith, hurts when I hurt. 

Even though He is in control!

Even though He knows the outcome!

Even though He could have stopped it and chose not to!

Even though He has every intention of doing something absolutely marvelous!

He still cries with his friends. 

He has empathy. 

He hurts when we hurt.  And it is OKAY TO CRY!

Do you want to know, What would Jesus do?!  When your heart is broken because you've lost something precious to you?
He would cry with you, that's what He would do.

If you want to know the rest of the story, I urge you to read John 11.  It is a beautiful story of compassion and healing.  You will see Jesus perform a miracle like no one then or now could begin to imagine. 

But here, right now, I just wanted to share with you these two things.

Jesus is all-powerful and all-knowing
but
Jesus is also deeply compassionate
and hurts when His friends hurt.

and it's okay to cry