In a world that often demands a stoic demeanor and an unflinching attitude, the life of Jesus points in another direction. It reveals authenticity, intensity, and the full range of human emotions. The complete humanity of the Son of God is good news for us. As one New Testament writer says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
As we journey through the Gospel narratives, we are invited to witness the real and complex feelings that this sympathetic savior experienced during His time on Earth. Jesus, the Son of God, wasn’t detached from the human experience; instead, He fully embraced it. His emotions reveal a God who feels deeply, demonstrating that our Creator isn’t aloof or distant from our struggles, pain, or joys.
In Matthew 9:36, we catch a glimpse of Jesus’ heart as He saw the crowds and had compassion on them. His empathy in the face of human suffering underscores the reality that God’s heart is moved by our circumstances. Beyond compassion, Jesus displayed a full spectrum of emotions. He wept at the grave of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35), expressed anger at the Pharisees’ hardness of heart (Mark 3:5), felt sorrow and trouble in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37-38), and rejoiced in the Spirit (Luke 10:21).
His interactions with people were marked by tenderness, awe, amazement, and zeal. These emotions in Jesus’ life go beyond mere examples; they unveil the heart of a God who understands us intimately. In His humanity, Jesus didn’t shy away from the depths of feelings, and He invites us to do the same.
By embracing our emotions, we mirror the genuine humanity He modeled, acknowledging that our emotions are a gift from God that enable us to connect with the world around us. At the core of it all, the emotions of Jesus reveal what it truly means to be human. He shows us that being human isn’t about being emotionless, but about allowing our emotions to guide us in alignment with God’s heart.
Jesus’ emotional experiences reflect the harmony between divine and human nature, exemplifying how our humanity can be aligned with God’s purposes. The emotional journey of Jesus is an encouragement and challenge to us. It encourages us to come as we are before our Creator, sharing our feelings and experiences without fear of judgment. It challenges us to be present in our emotions, recognizing that Jesus Himself experienced the depths of human struggles.
Reflecting on the humanity of Christ and the depth of his understanding of us is deeply encouraging. Taking our cues from the gospels and the New Testament, here are 30 emotions that Jesus experienced.
- Compassion: Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
- Sorrow: John 11:35 – “Jesus wept.”
- Anger: Mark 3:5 – “And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart…”
- Love: John 15:9 – “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
- Grief: Matthew 26:37-38 – “And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.'”
- Joy: Luke 10:21 – “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'”
- Amazement: Mark 6:6 – “And he marveled because of their unbelief.”
- Indignation: Mark 10:14 – “But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.'”
- Tenderness: Matthew 23:37 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
- Zeal: John 2:17 – “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.'”
- Frustration: Mark 9:19 – “And he answered them, ‘O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.'”
- Weariness: John 4:6 – “Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.”
- Awe: Luke 7:9 – “When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.'”
- Agony: Luke 22:44 – “And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
- Longing: Luke 22:15 – “And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.'”
- Need for Companionship: Mark 14:34 – “And he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.'”
- Desire for Fellowship: Matthew 26:29 – “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
- Brokenness: Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
- Mercy: Luke 7:13 – “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.'”
- Perseverance: John 6:15 – “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”
- Submission: Matthew 26:39 – “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'”
- Pity: Matthew 14:14 – “When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”
- Fear: Luke 22:42-44 – “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
- Boldness: Matthew 23:13-36 – Jesus’ confrontation of the Pharisees and religious leaders, expressing righteous indignation for their hypocrisy and manipulation.
- Contentment: John 4:34 – “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.'”
- Disappointment: Luke 18:22-23 – “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
- Encouragement: John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
- Patience: Mark 9:19 – “And he answered them, ‘O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.'”
- Serenity: Mark 4:39 – “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
- Hope: Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Take heart, friends, we have a remarkable Savior who has plumbed the depths of our human existence. He comprehends us, shares in our emotions, and is moved by empathy for us. He not only redeems our emotional lives but also serves as a model for a wholesome emotional existence. The gospel of Jesus offers the most genuine insight into the emotional landscape of humanity.