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Twice in scripture, Jesus is described as weeping.

When Jesus saw [Mary] 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)

As he approached Jerusalem, and saw the city, he wept over it and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace . . ." (Luke 19:41-42)

Whatever you are facing today, it is important for you to know that God cares. God loves you deeply. These two passages of scripture identify Jesus - the one who is God and the exact representation of God - as being moved to tears. And what is it that moves him to tears? The struggle and pain of humanity who he loves.

In John 11 Jesus weeps as he enters into the pain of those who are grieving. He could have told them to get over it and that a resurrection was coming. He could have offered them religious answers and pointed them towards hope. But at that moment he joined in with the pain of family and friends and he wept with them.

In Luke 19 Jesus is entering into his last days. He has just experienced the high of having Jerusalem applaud him and celebrate him as he entered the city. But they were looking for a religious Messiah who would restore their worship to what they wanted, and they were looking for a national Messiah who would restore their nation to independence and freedom. (Who would, we could say, make their nation great again.) But Jesus knew already, a week before the cross, that they did not want the peace he came to offer. He came to offer so much more than religious and/or national security or identity. He came to offer peace with God, each other, the world, and ourselves. He came to offer life to the full . . . and they didn't see it.

It is beautiful and comforting that Jesus' only recorded tears are on our behalf. He weeps with our pain and he weeps for the beauty and joy of life we are missing out on. When Jesus was going to the cross he felt anguish and sorrow, but there is no mention of tears.

His heartbreak is on our behalf.

His pain is our pain.

If you are struggling today, Jesus weeps with you. If you feel anxious and alone, Jesus weeps with you. If you are missing out on the abundant life Jesus came to offer because you're too caught up with religiousity or politics - whether you feel it or not - Jesus weeps for you. That is how great his love is for you.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19