"Jesus wept."  Those two words comprise the shortest verse in the Bible.  Yet, they say volumes about real manhood, don't they?  They tell us that real men love deeply (see 11:5 and 36), real men cry when they're in pain, and real men allow others to see their pain (see v. 38).

       Most men find it difficult to openly share their pain.  After all, if they should cry, others might think they're weak or inadequate.  For most men in our society, crying as Jesus did leaves a sense of being uncomfortably vulnerable.  Yet Jesus, during this time of intense emotion, wept.  His display was such that others who saw him weeping could openly see the love that he had for Lazarus and his two sisters.

       Crying can bring healing and much needed emotional release.  In a sense, it cleanses the soul.  It also places us in a position where others can express their love to us.  They can comfort us during our times of deep pain, and in so doing reinforce the emotional connections that are imperative to strengthening the bond of friendship.