Finding Hope in Grief: Understanding Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept: Finding Hope in Grief

On June 1, 2025, my family and I experienced a tragedy that forever changed us forever, my beloved cousin, Naseem King, was murdered. No words can fully capture the depth of the grief, anger, and disorientation that followed. In his honor, I created the King’s Light Foundation, an initiative through Surreal Faith Ministries dedicated to carrying forward his legacy by offering resources of hope and resilience to those who mourn.¹

In the wake of this loss, one verse has become especially meaningful: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Though it is the shortest verse in all of Scripture, it reveals profound truths about the nature of Christ, the human experience of grief, and the promise of hope.

The Profound Moment of "Jesus Wept"

The tears of Jesus occur in the story of Lazarus, His close friend.² Though Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, He did not bypass the moment of mourning. He paused, stood with Mary and Martha in their grief, and allowed Himself to feel their sorrow. His weeping affirms that grief is not weakness or faithlessness; it is love expressed through tears.

This moment also reveals the paradox of Christ’s nature: He is both fully God and fully man.³ As God incarnate, He knew Lazarus would live again, yet as a man, He entered the raw pain of human loss. His empathy assures us that He is not distant from our suffering but deeply connected to it.

The Human Side of the Divine

By understanding that Jesus, who is both fully divine and fully human, expressed His sorrow, we gain insight into the depth of His humanity. This acknowledgment that even the divine can experience deep emotional pain offers solace to those who are grieving. It reminds us that grief is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith but rather a part of the shared human condition.

Jesus' tears also signify His deep love and connection to humanity. It shows that He is not detached from our struggles but is intimately aware and compassionate toward our pain. This understanding can offer comfort to those who feel isolated in their grief, reassuring them that they are not alone.

Empathy as a Pathway to Healing

In moments of grief, empathy can be a powerful tool for healing. When we see Jesus weeping alongside those who mourned Lazarus, it demonstrates the importance of being present with others in their sorrow. Grief is often accompanied by feelings of loneliness and isolation, but empathy acts as a bridge, connecting hearts and easing burdens.

Grief as a Shared Human Experience

In my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) class, we studied the AWAR model of grief: Acknowledge the reality of loss.
Wait through painful emotions rather than rushing the healing process.
Adjust to a new reality without the loved one.
Reinvest in life and relationships, carrying memory forward.⁴
This framework has given me language for my own grief. I must acknowledge Naseem’s absence and the deep void it leaves. I must wait—grief cannot be rushed or ignored. I must adjust to a family dynamic forever altered. And, with God’s strength, I must reinvest—honoring Naseem’s life through ministry and carrying his light forward.

Jesus’ tears also demonstrate the power of empathy. When He stood outside Lazarus’s tomb, He did not lecture or minimize grief; He joined in it. This teaches us that one of the greatest gifts we can offer others is presence. Listening without judgment, sitting in silence, or simply weeping together can be transformative. As Richard Dayringer reminds us, pastoral care is not about providing quick answers but about “walking with people in the valley of the shadow of death.”⁵

By embracing this model of empathy, we learn to support one another through shared experiences. Listening without judgment, offering a shoulder to cry on, or simply being there can provide immense relief to those who are grieving. It is through these acts of kindness that hope begins to emerge from the shadows of despair.

The Promise of Hope Beyond Grief

Although Jesus wept for Lazarus, His actions also pointed to a greater promise: the hope of resurrection and eternal life. This aspect of the story serves as a reminder that grief is not the end but rather a passage toward something greater. For believers, it reassures them that death is not final and that there is hope beyond this life.

This promise of hope can be an anchor for those navigating the turbulent waters of grief. It encourages individuals to hold onto their faith and look forward to the possibility of reunion with loved ones. This vision of hope offers comfort and strength in times of sorrow.

Finding Personal Meaning in Grief

While Jesus wept, He also declared, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). His tears did not nullify His divine authority they magnified it. By delaying His arrival, Jesus allowed death to run its full course, underscoring its reality. Yet He also demonstrated His power over it by raising Lazarus. As a prophet and God incarnate, He knew the outcome, but He still honored the reality of human grief. Death is not merely “sleep.” It is real, and it wounds deeply. Yet in Christ, death is not the final word.

This dual reality shapes the Christian response to grief: we mourn authentically, but we do not mourn without hope (1 Thess. 4:13). We can both lament the loss and trust in resurrection.

Conclusion: Embracing the Comforter

In conclusion, the moment when "Jesus wept" offers profound lessons on navigJesus Wept: Finding Hope in Griefating grief with compassion and hope. It reminds us that mourning is a natural response to loss and that it can coexist with faith and love. By following the example set by Jesus, we learn to be present with others in their pain, offering empathy and support.

Ultimately, this story encourages us to embrace the comforter in our own lives, finding strength in shared experiences and hope in the promise of renewal. In doing so, we uncover the resilience within us and discover new ways to honor our journey through grief.

Practical Application: Begin a “grief journal.” Write daily letters to God, naming your loss, your feelings, and your hopes. End each entry with a prayer inviting Christ to share in your sorrow.

Footnotes

1. Surreal Faith Ministries, King’s Light Foundation, accessed September 16, 2025, https://surrealfaith.com/kingslightfoundation.
2.John 11:1–44 (ESV).
3. David J. Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2011), 512.
4. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) curriculum, lecture notes, Summer 2025.
5. Richard Dayringer, The Heart of Pastoral Counseling (New York: Haworth Pastoral Press, 1998), 44.