John 11:35 JESUS wept. [King James Translation]
Summary
This scripture is famous for being the shortest verse in the King James Bible and many other translations. This scripture occurs in the narrative that describes the death and later resurrection of Lazarus. The events are as follows: JESUS receives a message from Mary and Martha that their brother, Lazarus, is sick. JESUS loved this family but HE does not go to see Lazarus until two days later. When JESUS arrives in Bethany where Lazarus and his two sisters live, JESUS encounters Martha and later meets a weeping Mary, who falls to HIS feet and says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When JESUS sees her weeping, and the other people who came to console Mary also weeping, the Bible says, JESUS “groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” The Bible says, JESUS asked where they had laid Lazarus and was told to “come and see.” Then, JESUS wept.
This short verse illustrates a great number of things. We could probably make a list. We could probably make a list. However, one of the most powerful and significant aspects of this story is not only that JESUS had sympathy for a human situation but that JESUS had empathy for Martha and Mary.
According to the Cambridge-English dictionary, “sympathy” is an expression of or an understanding or care for someone else’s trouble, grief or misfortune. We can often feel sympathy at a distance. We can send a sympathy card and mentally move on or watch something in the news and have pity or sympathy for a fire that occurred or and then switch channels and watch a comedy show and laugh.
Empathy, according to Psychology Today is different from sympathy. Empathy is the experience of understanding another’s thoughts, feelings and condition from their point of view, rather than your own. Empathy is putting yourself in another’s place. Empathy is when you feel what another is going through as if it were happening to you. Empathy really allows you to get personally involved because you are sharing the pain of another. It is as if we are experiencing it ourselves. See, www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/empathy.
John 11:35 illustrates that JESUS not only sees our pain; HE feels our pain. HE sees. HE not only knows, HE really knows and understand and is there “with us” going through our grief and sorry and our human conditions with us. When our spirit groans; HE groans. And, when we pray in times of weakness, having nowhere else to turn and feeling overwhelmed, the HOLY SPIRIT also knows and groans too, interceding and praying with us. See Romans 8:26-27.
This scripture is short but significant.
Exercise:
Sometimes people deal with exercise from a distance. Sometimes people talk about exercising. Other may even “plan” to exercise, week after week after week after months after years.
Sometimes people watch others exercise on television. Some buy exercise CD’s and watch shows or contestants on shows. Others even buy the exercise clothing, shoes and paraphernalia, but never get to really deal with exercise up close and personal. Some may even go to a gym to hang out and talk, but never really “work out.”
Some might even be sympathetic to the idea of exercising, but in the end never gets really personal involved or only get involved for a short while
Rather than “beat yourself up,” or even just feel sorry or sympathy for yourself, some have suggested having self-compassion or try to develop some self-empathy. According to Harvard Health, research has shown that self-compassionate people recognize when they are suffering, are kind to themselves at these times, thereby lowering their levels or related anxiety and depression. See: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mental-health/4-ways-to-boost-your-self-compassion
Harvard Health suggests four ways to boost your self-compassion:
- Comfort your body. Eat something healthy. Lie down and rest. Massage your own hands and feet. Take a walk. Anything you can do to improve how you feel physically gives you a dose of self-compassion.
- Write a letter to yourself. Think of a situation that caused you to feel pain (a breakup, a job loss, a poorly received presentation). Write a letter to yourself describing the situation, but without blaming anyone — including yourself. Use this exercise to nurture your feelings.
- Give yourself encouragement. Think of what you would say to a good friend if he or she was facing a difficult or stressful situation. Then, when you find yourself in this kind of situation, direct these compassionate responses toward yourself.
- Practice mindfulness. Even a quick exercise, such as meditating for a few minutes, can be a great way to nurture and accept ourselves while we're in pain.
Id. [Emphasis added.]
And, we should also add:
5. Pray: Remember JESUS and THE HOLY SPIRIT feel your pain. GOD wants to help those who ask!
Self-compassion may mean seeking help, by speaking with your physician, or an exercise therapist or trainer if going it alone is not working. Get others personally involved in your exercise plan.
Short But Significant Acts
It is often the short, but significant things that count. A short cheerful hello after a long day’s work; a short phone call to a loved one, friend or relative; a simple e-mail or note, just to say hello; a friendly smile or welcoming a visitor at your place of worship; or, a simple thank you for a meal, are significant.
The short spiritual things are also significant. The silent prayer for a homeless person or a downcast person you see on the street. The prayers you send out when you hear about disasters like school shootings, floods, fires, wars, the killing of worshippers in a house of GOD or the killing of those engaged in everyday events, like shopping in a supermarket, going to a movie theatre or just being a work. We weep for those who weep because lives matter.
GOD weeps with us.
Today, pray, weep, get personally involved and BE BLESSED.
