A Prayer about Jesus’ Tears

Do you know the Christmas carol that doesn’t get it quite right?

Jesus wept. John 11:35

Compassionate Lord,

Even though the day most people exchange gifts 

has come and gone,

or maybe especially because that day 

has come and gone, it’s a good time 

to contemplate this baby in the manger. 

Many of us love the Christmas lullaby 

“Away in a Manger,” 

but the authors may have gotten one thing wrong: 

“The little Lord Jesus, 

no crying he makes ….” 

That can’t be right.

Babies cry. 

They express their need 

for food, 

clean diapers, 

and sleep 

by crying. 

Though Jesus was fully God, 

he was also fully human, 

and he likely cried when he was a baby, 

(especially if cows were mooing in his ear.) 

Heavenly Father, may we never forget Jesus’ true humanity, 

but may we also believe in his deep sympathy, 

his passion for and with us. 

Not only did he cry as a baby, 

he wept as a man 

over his friend Lazarus’ death. 

Not only did he cry as a baby, 

he sweated blood  

as he agonized in the garden 

over his own impending death (Luke 22:39-46). 

Yes, Lord, Jesus wept. 

May we affirm the cries of the baby Jesus 

and may we trace the tears of our Savior, 

who was well acquainted with grief. 

Amen. 

Read John 11:28-44; Luke 22:39-46.