Recently I read what author Debra Fileta had to say about Jesus being in touch with His emotions. I guess I haven’t thought about Jesus being emotional and in tune with His feelings, but she brings out over thirty-nine different emotions that are written in scripture that Jesus expressed while He was on earth. He felt joy, as He says to his disciples in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in your, and that your joy may be full.” We know that He experienced grief when He wept over Jerusalem and also at the time of Lazarus’ death. He also showed righteous anger, calling the Pharisees and scribes hypocrites, serpents and a brood of vipers. We know He got weary, sitting by the well when the Samaritan woman came along; also there were times he went away from the crowd to pray to His Father. We read often that He was filled with compassion when He saw the crowds, healed them and taught them.
Debra writes how Jesus recognized his feelings and chose to react in a positive way. Of course, that can’t be said of us all the time for we may react instantly, express anger or frustration and say things we will later regret. Or it could be we just shut down and withdraw and try to numb our feelings. But let us remember that feelings are not bad or good but are signals to let us know what is going on inside of us. It’s how we respond that is important. Instead of immediately reacting, we can stop and think of what they mean and pay attention to what they are saying is below the surface. Maybe we need healing, or maybe we need to set boundaries or need relief from stress. But whatever it is, may we consider feelings as our friends, tune into them and respond in Jesus’ way.
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