Jesus Wept

The account of Lazarus’ death in John 11 tells us that Jesus wept. Jesus got word that Lazarus was sick and noted that the sickness would not end in death, but would be for God’s glory (v. 3 & 4). Jesus knew this and so He stayed where he was another two days. When we hear that a loved one is sick and possibly near death, we drop what we are doing and rush to their side, yet Jesus stayed where He was, he didn’t see an urgency.

In verse 11, we see that Jesus tells his disciples that Lazarus had died, but He was going to “wake him” (raise him from the dead).

When He sees Mary and Martha, they both expressed that they knew if Jesus had gotten there earlier that Lazarus would not have died. Had they forgotten that Jesus healed people from a distance?

Some would say that Jesus wept because He was moved with emotion at the loss of a loved one. If that was true, then why wouldn’t He have wept when He told the disciples that Lazarus had died?

Some may say He was moved by seeing the emotion of others, but if that was the case, then why ask the question about where Lazarus was laid after you’re “moved and troubled” and then weep?

He told the disciples what was about to happen, he had been teaching that He was the resurrection and the Life and Jesus knew that His days were numbered before He would be crucified and show them that He would rise again. Yet those closest to Him couldn’t see it.

Were His tears because of the lack of faith and understanding of those closest to Him? I think so. Imagine how it saddens Him when He dies for mankind and they simply don’t believe, and they mock Him. Through all of our unbelief and the tears He sheds…. He loves us anyway….