by Brooke Shambley

Created on: January 31, 2011   Last Updated: February 01, 2011

The shortest and maybe one of the most poignant verses in the Bible is John 11:35, "Jesus wept".  When one thinks about this, one realizes that God incarnate wept.  Why would God weep? 

The story behind John 11:35 sheds some light on Jesus’ demonstration of emotion.  Jesus was a across the Jordon river over 20 miles away when He was told that Lazarus was sick, but He did not come right away.  He waited.  He knew what was going to happen and He knew that He was going to bring Lazarus back to life.  After Lazarus died, Jesus came to Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, and saw that they were grieving.  They had just buried their brother knowing that Jesus could have saved him.  Jesus wept after seeing Mary’s sorrow.  After that, He went to the tomb and prayed that God would raise Lazarus, and God did.  Lazarus came out of the tomb with the burial wrappings still on, yet he was alive, raised from the dead.

When in John 11:11 Scripture shows that Jesus already knew that Lazarus was dead and He knew that He was going to bring him back, one still wonders regarding why Jesus wept.  Since He was not pained at the loss of Lazarus' death, the question remains:

Why did Jesus weep?

Jesus wept because He shares in the pain of humankind.  He was deeply moved by Mary's heartache and He was sorrowed in response to her sorrow.  God cares so deeply for each person that when his children experience heart break, so does He.

Why did Jesus not come sooner?

Sometimes God lets things happen that will bring the greater glory to God.  Still He shares in each person’s pain and has a plan for each life.  Jesus showed the glory of God by raising Lazarus from the dead.  If Lazarus had not died, God would not have been able to use him in such a powerful way.

Why did the people lose hope?

The people near to Lazarus expected Jesus to save Lazarus from death, but they did not expect Jesus to bring Lazarus back from death.  Sometimes God lets circumstances go from bad to worse because He wants to work a bigger miracle than expected.  The people lost hope because they did not trust God for what seemed impossible.  What is impossible with humans is possible with God.

Why is it significant that Jesus wept?

It is important to know that God shares each person’s heartaches, disappointments, and pains.  Mary wept and her heart was broken, but her passion and faith deeply moved the spirit of God.  Jesus can bring back to life the dead and He can even restore those living in death.

The lessons that can be gained from this Scripture are as substantial and significant as the verse is small and short.  Four lessons stand out as integral teachings that can penetrate the heart and stay with a person throughout his or her life.

Realize that only God knows the master plan. Recognize that God shares in each person’s heartaches. Expect God to move beyond the expected. Anticipate God's spirit to move.

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