Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept

When Jesus came to Mary and Martha and the grave
Why did he weep?
He knew that soon Lazarus would come forth,
Dance out of the grave clothes
Raise his arms for joy and shout to the heavens
So why did Jesus weep?

Because for the first time Jesus felt and drank
And soaked up the grief and anguish of humanity.
The terror and torn flesh of those struck down in anger
The abandonment of the childless widow
The loneliness of the solitary husband
The fear of the orphaned child
The shattered dreams left behind in a child’s death
The rudderless course of a nation robbed of a wise leader
The anguish of those facing eternal darkness and pain


No, he didn’t weep for his dear friends
Who would again laugh and break bread for a time.
When Jesus wept, he wept for you and me
And most of all for those who never will see his face
Or feel his voice or hear his loving, “Welcome home, my child”
That is why Jesus wept, and that is why I weep in the night
And go forth in the day to speak his name.

Gerry Gutierrez
Mexico City
1986