"Jesus wept."

A Holy Week Reflection3

1 March 2021

From afar, an atmosphere of distress drifted through the air. 

The wind was cold.

The smell of melancholy was unbearable.

The sight of anguish was tormenting.

The sound of sadness was deafening.

Then suddenly, Jesus appeared.

After seeing everyone grieved over Lazarus' untimely demise, He too, in spirit and in flesh, was deeply troubled. 

As he looked deeply on each mourner's eyes, he showed his compassionate nature. 

"Jesus wept." 

Reflectively, He did not weep because of his friend's death itself for He knows entirely, that in due time, Lazarus and like everyone else whom he fondly loved will ultimately be in heaven with him. 

(1) His crying was marked by sympathy and sensitivity to other people's emotions. Like all of us, Jesus, was just being human. He was spontaneously affected by the affliction and grief shown by everyone else.

Moreover, (2) Jesus wept because he got to see a firsthand account of how it feels like to lose someone dearly. He too was thinking of his friends and family's excruciating pain over his impending death. He knew that He will be mocked over, tortured, persecuted, buried and mourned for. And such lamentation, like everyone else would feel, was too much of a burden to anticipate.

And lastly, (3) He knew exactly what lies ahead. His "inner cry" was a reminder that he can't escape even his very own death.

True enough, a night before his crucifixion, he was in agony. Physiologically, I assumed, due to apprehensive uneasiness, His body was shaking. In fact, in point to biblical account as cited by Luke, Jesus experienced "hematohidrosis" while earnestly praying in the garden of Gethsemane. In extreme anguish, "his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”

"Jesus wept".... Again.

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May this season of Lent reminds us that no matter how difficult life is, we are never alone. Jesus understands our pain; He understands our struggles. No matter the sleepless nights, "Jesus weeps with us."

#HoldOnTight #ThisTooShallPass 🙏🙏🙏 

Have a Blessed Holy Week 🙏🙏🙏