Just Like You And Me

“When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.” (John 11:33, NLT)

“Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” (John 11:41-42, NLT)

The journey of grief feels like a lonely one. Not many people in your life may understand what it is like to lose someone. Even fewer know the details of your specific loss, and only you know the unique feelings and reactions that you are experiencing. God may feel like a comfort but not close enough to really understand. What a gift, then, that he became incarnate in Jesus so that we could know we were truly not alone!

This story in John 11:17-39 gives a perfect example for us of how Jesus responded to death himself. Note the way that Jesus responded to the death of his friend Lazarus. He was angry and troubled. He wept. If you have done any of this since your person died, let this be your confirmation that you are doing it right!

But look at how else he responded. Jesus spoke the truth into the frenzy of human emotion and anxiety. In one hand, he held the full range of emotions that you might also be feeling, but he was not panicked in the face of death because, in the other hand, he held the truth. Jesus could turn in his pain to talk with his heavenly Father, and he models this honest acknowledgment of grief and reliance on God for us as we walk through the loneliness of sorrow.

Jesus knew exactly how to comfort those grieving around him. While he did not experience the exact details of every person’s loss, the Bible describes him as one who was well acquainted with grief. Jesus knew what it was like to lose someone that you love, and he responded to death just like you and I do. If you’re feeling alone in your grief today, know that you have a Friend who understands. Jesus will walk with you when no one else will; he will model for you the kind of grief that will lead to life.