Fortunately for my parents, I wasn’t fully aware of John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” growing up. If so, I may have very likely used that verse as defense for my emotions. Now, I say that lightheartedly because as a child, I cried every. single. day. I cried multiple times…every. single. day. It could’ve been for reasons that mattered or for reasons that didn’t matter. Maybe I was crying because I didn’t feel well. Maybe I was bored. Or maybe I was crying because my favorite movie just ended on the television and I didn’t want it to end. The endless crying drove my parents crazy! I cried so much so that my parents finally came to me with a proposition: they would pay me $5 a day for every day that I didn’t cry. Like any smart kid would do, I took the deal! And then…I walked away as broke as a church mouse.
Now knowing the aforementioned, you wouldn’t have been surprised or taken back to see me in tears as a child. The verdict is still out on whether it was complete and utter emotional instability or if it was my undiscovered acting abilities, but one thing is for sure, tears are a human’s way of showing emotion. Tears are a natural way for our bodies to relieve emotional pain. And, on good days, tears can be a way for us to relieve uncontrollable joy. When referring to John 11:35, however, we see tears were Jesus’ beautiful way of expressing a complex bundle of human feelings while simultaneously bonding with the other human beings who surrounded him.
Truth Mapping: Episode #6
As mentioned in Episode #6 of the Blood, Sweat and Tears Podcast, the topic of Jesus’ tears was inspired by my oldest son, Braelyn, who will be leaving for college soon. As long as I can remember, it has been his favorite verse:
“Jesus wept.” John 11:35
In all honesty, I’m not sure that truth mapping a verse composed of only two (2) words is a thing. But I do know that searching for God and finding him is a thing. So with that being said, download and print out the free truth map for John 11:35 found HERE and, together, we’ll see how the LORD wants to enlighten us.
When you’re done, as always, hop on over to Instagram and/or Facebook to share your truth mapping epiphanies with us! The LORD speaks to us all in different ways. What one person receives from a message isn’t necessarily what another will receive. That’s one reason Christian community is so important. So spread the Good News and tag us at @bsandtpodcast!
Haven’t listened or gotta hear all of the goodness again?
Discerning the Voice of God Through the Tears: Episode #6
