Far too many have grown up with the false idea that “real men don’t cry.” The attitude of some is that shedding tears shows weakness and cowardice. However, nothing could be further from the truth! Tears often show compassion, caring, passion and reality. Jesus was certainly a “real man”! He was not weak in any sense of the word (John 2:13ff), and yet on at least three separate occasions His merciful eyes were filled with tears.
On one occasion, Jesus cried over a city. “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes” (Luke 19:41-42). What broke His heart on this occasion? It certainly involved the fact that although opportunity abounded in the city of Jerusalem regarding salvation, the city wasted its chance. Now the only thing that was left was judgment. Wasted opportunities surely continue to break our Savior’s heart. I wonder how many tears Jesus has shed and continues to shed over cities today.
On another occasion, Jesus cried over a comrade. “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept” (John 11:33-35). I have heard many discussions on why Jesus wept on this occasion. While I may not understand all of the reasons, I can logically ascertain at least one reason. Jesus felt emotional pain when He saw His friends weeping, and He was overwhelmed at the sight of the lifeless corpse of Lazarus. Does Jesus care when my heart aches? Oh yes, He cares; I know my Savior cares! His compassion makes life’s valleys so much easier to handle.
On a third occasion, Jesus cried over His crucifixion. Although we do not read in the Gospel accounts of these tears, the inspired penman of Hebrews wrote, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared” (Hebrews 5:7). When a person is overwhelmed with stress and anxiety, often tears and weeping are a natural outlet. So many times these tears are uncontrollable because of the high stress of the situation. What was Jesus feeling the night before His death? The above text certainly shows a pain-filled Savior, inundated with emotional strain and mental stress. We will never know fully what He suffered, but suffice it to say, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This He faced because He loved me so!
There were days, when just like you and me, Jesus wept. Those compassionate tears that filled His eyes show more than anything His humanity and His love. Surely the greatest blessing one can have is to know Jesus. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
