Aslan’s Tears
“Jesus sobbed.” —John 11:35
Digory, standing before the great lion, Aslan, remembered his terminally ill Mother. A lump came to his throat and tears to his eyes, and he blurted out, “But please, please—won’t you—can’t you give me something that will cure Mother?”
Up till then he had been looking at the Lion’s great feet and the huge claws on them; now, in his despair, he looked up at its face. What he saw surprised him as much as anything in his whole life. For the tawny face was bent down near his own and (wonder of wonders) great shining tears stood in the Lion’s eyes. They were such big, bright tears compared with Digory’s own that for a moment he felt as if the Lion must really be sorrier about his Mother than he was himself. 'My son, my son,' said Asian. 'I know. Grief is great. Only you and I in this land know that yet. Let us be good to one another.'"[1]
I think of Jesus' tears at Lazarus' grave. John tells us that he “sobbed.” He sobbed for his own grief, for Mary and Martha’s grief and he sobs for you and me. Grief is great. Jesus knows. He will be good to you.
And, lest we forget, everyone we meet today has some measure of grief to bear. Grief is great. Let us be good to one another.
David Roper
