If you bring me your problem, I feel the need to fix your problem for you. If you tell me you’re hurting, I want you to immediately feel better. If you’re struggling, I want you off that struggle bus this instant and marching down the path of purpose. I just want to fix it all, and fix it now.

But I can’t. I can’t fix your problems. I can’t make it all better. I can’t remove your struggle. I can’t change anything for you. But, I can introduce you to someone who can. In the words of a great song we’ve all been singing, “let me tell you ’bout my Jesus.”

Jesus knows exactly how to break through the barrier which has been holding you back. He knows precisely how to overcome the same struggle you’ve been struggling with for years. He knows what’s hurting you and how it can heal. He knows what’s at the core of this problem and how to dig through the layers to fix more than just the surface this time.

He knows, and he already has a plan in action to take care of your problems. He knows, and he has already worked out a solution for you. He knows, and he has made a way when it still looks impossible to you right now.

But, Jesus doesn’t come in like a tornado. He’s not in a radical rush. He won’t show up in a frenzy and leave a mess in his wake. Nope, he will show up with compassion and sit with you, hurt with you, cry with you, all while he knows exactly how he’s going to take care of this for you.

The shortest verse in scripture is John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”

Why was Jesus crying? He was crying because his friend Lazarus had died. Who was he crying with? Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha. But here’s what is so powerful and interesting about this scripture. Jesus already knew Lazarus was dying before he died, and he already had a plan and the power to bring him back to life. Yet, he stopped and he cried with Mary and Martha.

Let’s actually read the story together. John 11:

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days …

Jesus told the disciples “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead …”

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out …”

So again, why did Jesus cry? He knew the problem before he got there. He had a solution to the problem already planned. He had the power to make it happen right then and there. Yet, he stopped and cried.

Doesn’t this say everything about our Jesus? Doesn’t this show his power, yet his personal care? Doesn’t this show his greatness to be above everything, yet his goodness to be on our level at the same time. His magnificence and his mercy. His wisdom to know Lazarus will not stay dead, and his willingness to understand the loss in this moment.

He doesn’t ride in on a white horse and say “stop that crying, I’m here to save the day!” No, he walks in and meets with Mary and Martha and says “show me where.” Show me where he is buried. Show me what you have lost. Show me what has hurt you. Show me why you are burdened. Show me what worries you. Show me. Take me to that place. And he wept with them.

And that’s what he says to you and I today. I’m here, now show me. Show me what happened. Show me how you were hurt. Show me where you’ve struggled. Show me what burdens you. Take me to that place now. And Jesus will come and he will weep with you. He weeps because what hurts you hurts him. He will weep because you have lost. He will weep because you are burdened and worried.

And sister, after he has wept with you, he will start moving some crap! Jesus said, “take away this stone … now Larazus come out!”

This was always Jesus’ plan. Yet, he stopped to hurt with Mary and Martha. He stopped to understand their pain and sit with them in the place where they had experienced loss.

Jesus sits here with you and hurts with you. This pains him too. But know this … he has a plan through this pain! He isn’t sitting here crying without knowing exactly how he is going to get you through it and use his power for good. He sits here with you in compassion and mercy, and when the time is right he will reveal his power at work. Some crap will start moving. Some things will start changing. Some things you thought were too far gone will be revived, renewed, and restored.

You will be shocked by it, but Jesus will not be. He always knew this wasn’t over. He always knew this wasn’t too far gone. He always knew this wasn’t the end. But he also knew you were hurting, so he hurt with you. He knew you needed a moment, so he is here close in this moment.

I can’t fix your problems. I can’t make this go away for you. But, I can tell you about my Jesus. I can tell you that he will come and sit with you. He will be ever so near. He will ask you to take him to the place where you have lost, where you have hurt, where you have tried and failed. He will cry with you. And girl, he will reveal his plan of healing, restoration and wholeness to you.

He’s in the business of bringing back joy where joy has been gone for so long. He’s in the business of restoring what has been broken beyond repair. He’s in the business of tearing down walls, moving mountains, breaking chains, and rolling stones. He’s in the business of fixing this.

He’s here today, ever so near to you. He will sit and weep with you in this place where you have lost because he cares deeply about you. Just know, it doesn’t end there. He knows the way through this and he’s going to do some miraculous works on your behalf.