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Emotionally Connected

“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35

Throughout the Gospel we see a picture of an emotionally involved and sensitive Savior. The Son of Man is there to enter into the emotional pain surrounding the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:1-44). He’s available to minister in the midst of the loneliness of a tax collector (Luke 19:1-9) and the rejection of a leper (Luke 17:11-19).

But why does Jesus do this? Why does He take the time and emotional energy to share in the hurts and disappointments of others? It’s not His divinity that requires such involvement, but rather His humanity. And if He is to be our great high priest, then He must enter into our emotional world of joy and pain, victory and defeat, celebration and grief.

The word used most often in the Gospels to describe the heart of Jesus is the word compassion. He would look upon the sick, lame, hungry and rejected and be “moved with compassion.” He wasn’t moved to give advice or a sermon, but compassion. We see the power of this compassion in today’s Scripture text, which tells us how Christ shared in the pain of Mary, whose brother had died. Imagine that! This short verse in the Bible tells us of a God who cries out in grief.

We are called to do this with our families, with our friends and in our marriages. However, it’s easier to analyze, avoid, rationalize and blame, which allows us to remain detached and withdrawn from the pain of others. Instead, may we by the power of the Holy Spirit, enter into the emotional pain of others to bring the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ into their lives.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, Empower me by Your Holy Spirit to enter into the emotional world of those who You have placed in my life. Give me a genuine sympathy for others in pain and use me as Your instrument to bring comfort, healing and joy into their lives. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen