How does this verse connect to Romans 12:15 about mourning with others? The Verse in Focus John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” Romans 12:15 Restated “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.” How the Two Passages Interlock • Jesus models the very command Paul later gives—He steps into Mary and Martha’s grief and feels it with them. • The brevity of “Jesus wept” highlights the depth of His identification; He doesn’t merely observe sadness, He shares it, illustrating what it looks like to “weep with those who weep.” • Both verses show compassion as an action, not only an emotion. Jesus traveled to Bethany and engaged; Romans 12:15 calls us to do the same in our local context. • The Lord’s tears prove that entering another’s sorrow does not contradict faith. Knowing He would raise Lazarus, Jesus still mourned; likewise, even when we trust God’s purposes, we still join others in lament. • Christ’s example validates the emotional weight of grief, guarding believers from minimizing or rushing it—exactly the sensitivity Romans 12:15 demands. Practical Ways to Imitate the Connection • Be physically present. Jesus went to the tomb; we go to the hospital, the funeral home, or the living room. • Listen before speaking. The Savior’s tears came before His words (John 11:33–35). We mirror that order. • Offer comfort rooted in hope. Jesus eventually spoke life (John 11:25–26, 43). After weeping with others, we remind them of resurrection promises (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18). • Carry the burden long-term. Christ’s empathy continued to the cross; we keep checking in weeks and months later (Galatians 6:2). • Pray with compassion. Hebrews 4:15 assures us we have a Sympathizing High Priest; we intercede, trusting He still feels with His people. Supporting Scriptures • 2 Corinthians 1:3–4—God “comforts us…so that we can comfort those in any trouble.” • Psalm 34:18—“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.” • Isaiah 53:4—Messiah “carried our sorrows,” foreshadowing John 11:35 and shaping Romans 12:15 obedience. Grieving side-by-side with others, we follow the pattern of Jesus in John 11:35 and fulfill the exhortation of Romans 12:15. |
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