Jesus Shares Your Tears

Daily R.E.A.P. Report for John 11:35 (ESV)
Jesus Shares Your Tears

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“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 (ESV)

John’s Gospel was written to help people believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in His name (John 20:31). In John 11, Jesus receives news that His friend Lazarus is gravely ill. He delays going to Bethany, then arrives after Lazarus has died. He meets grieving sisters, Martha and Mary, proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life,” and then, standing at the tomb, He weeps before calling Lazarus out from the grave. This miracle both reveals Jesus’ divine authority over death and His tender humanity in the face of sorrow. The chapter also foreshadows His own death and resurrection and shows that God’s glory is displayed not by avoiding pain, but by redeeming it.

EXAMINE

“Jesus wept” reveals the heart of God toward human suffering. The Son of God does not dismiss tears; He enters them. He is neither stoic nor detached. Jesus’ tears dignify our grief, showing that sorrow and faith can coexist. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus shares our pain and confronts the enemy—death—with love, compassion, and ultimately resurrection power. Your pain matters to God, and your tears are seen.

Connection to Jesus: This verse shines a spotlight on Jesus’ full humanity and full divinity. As fully human, He feels the sting of loss; as fully divine, He raises Lazarus and points to His victory over death at the cross and empty tomb. Jesus taught, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” and He Himself models it—He mourns with those who mourn and then brings life. Following Jesus means we learn to lament honestly and hope fiercely, trusting Him to heal and restore.

Main Themes:
- Compassion: God’s love is not theoretical; it is present, tender, and moved by our pain.
- Lament and Faith: Grief is not a lack of faith. Honest tears can be an expression of trust brought into God’s presence.
- Victory over Death: Jesus’ tears do not end in despair; they lead to resurrection hope.

Key Word Study:
- Wept (Greek: edakrysen, from dakryō): to shed quiet tears. Unlike the loud public wailing (Greek: klaio) common at funerals, this word pictures Jesus’ personal, intimate grief—He truly enters the sorrow of the moment.
- Deeply moved (nearby in John 11:33, Greek: embrimaomai): to be stirred with indignation. In the context, Jesus is not only sad; He is righteously angered at what sin and death have done to God’s good world. This deep movement of spirit leads Him to act—raising Lazarus and pointing to His ultimate triumph over death.

APPLY

Reflective Questions:
- Where am I carrying grief, disappointment, or anxiety that I’ve been afraid to bring fully to Jesus?
- Who in my life needs the ministry of presence—someone to sit, listen, and weep with them rather than fix them?
- What would it look like today to hold both honest lament and resilient hope before God?

Real-Life Application:
- Practice Lament with Jesus: Set a 10-minute quiet window. Name your sorrow specifically (a loss, a fear, a broken relationship). Imagine Jesus beside you at the “tomb” of that situation. Tell Him how it feels. Ask Him to hold it with you. End by simply praying, “Jesus, be here with me.”
- Offer Compassionate Presence: Think of one person who is hurting. Reach out with a brief message: “I’m here. No need to talk if you don’t want to, but I’m with you.” If appropriate, drop off a meal or take a walk with them. Listen more than you speak; avoid platitudes.
- Anchor in Resurrection Hope: Write down one promise (e.g., John 11:25–26; Revelation 21:4). Put it where you’ll see it today. When grief surfaces, place your hand over the words and pray them back to God.

Short Scenario: A coworker loses a parent. Instead of offering quick fixes or theological explanations, you take your lunch break to sit with them. You say, “I’m so sorry. I’m here.” You listen, offer to pray a simple, gentle prayer, and check in later that week. Your quiet presence becomes a channel of Christ’s love, and over time, that coworker begins to ask about the hope you carry.

PRAY

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for revealing Your heart in Jesus—compassionate, present, and powerful over death. Forgive me for the times I’ve rushed past pain—my own or others’—or tried to fix what You first invite me to weep over. I bring You my griefs today. Hold them with me, and comfort my heart. Fill me with the tenderness of Christ to sit with the hurting and the courage to hope in His resurrection. By Your Holy Spirit, make my tears a pathway to deeper trust and my presence a doorway for Your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CLOSING REFLECTION: Picture Jesus standing with you outside the tomb of what hurts most. His eyes meet yours, and tears trace His cheeks—your pain matters to Him. Then He turns toward the darkness and speaks life. Walk away from that place today knowing He is both weeping with you and working for you.

Call to Action: Memorize John 11:35 and reach out to one person who is grieving or struggling this week. Offer simple presence and a prayer. As you do, remember: Jesus shares your tears and leads you toward resurrection hope.