“IMITATE ME, JUST as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1)…

The Greek word translated “imitate” means to mimic. When we think of a mimic, we often think of a child who emulates and copys his parent’s adult behavior.

But just to what extent are we to mimic Christ? If you reply, “Well Mike, in ALL ways,” (and I hope you do), then allow me to stimulate your thinking a bit further.

Did Jesus experience the full range of human emotions? Yes (Hebrews 4:15). Did Jesus ever feel sad and weep? Check your Bible carefully. There are at least three passages in Scripture which reveal the real heart of Christ:

1. “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it” (Luke 19:41). Jesus felt sorrow over the fact that Jerusalem had rejected Him as the Messiah and that she would ultimately suffer judgment (cf., Matthew 24) for doing so. He hurt over lost people.

2. “Who, in the days of His flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard becuase of His godly fear” (Hebrews 5:7; cf., Luke 22:44). Jesus felt sorrow over the sins of humanity and that those transgressions would separate Him–in all eternity–from his Father in heaven while He hung on the cross. But watch the text! Jesus didn’t just hurt internally, He cried out loudly as He poured out His heart. Jesus experienced strong, overt emotions. He was an emotional man, and hurt as He pondered Calvary.

3. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Jesus felt sorrow over the reality of death, over little faith, and over the fact that His friends were grieving the passing of a loved one. Those two little words tell us volumes about Christ. He hurt when others hurt.

I find it interesting that we never find a single passage about the laughter of our Lord, but we do find these insightful passages about His tears and emotional pain. Jesus cried. Isaiah looked through the long lens of Bible prophecy and described Him as, “…A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…” (v. 3b).

May I ask a few hard questions? When was the last time you cried over lost souls? When was the last time you cried (Matthew 5:4) over the fact that your sins separate you from the Father in heaven? And when was the last time you wept and mourned with those whose hearts are heavy (Romans 12:15b) and burdened?

Paul said we ought to mimic Jesus.

Jesus wept, cried, and mourned.

Grab your tissues and inimitate the Savior. (Mike Benson)

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3