12 of 252

Write now Article Tools

There are so many verses that are so vital to us, leading us to salvation, explaining Gods will, but the verse I think of whenever this question comes up is the simplest: John 11:35 is only two words long: "Jesus Wept."

The reason I selected this verse is because I always remember the impact it had one day, even though I had read it many times before. It seems that even the most devout, (which I cannot claim to be), can become a bit jaded through familiarity with the scriptures and with actors portrayals. Even at the crucifixion there is the subtle knowledge that He is, after all, God and soon to be resurrected and whole.

The situation in John 11 is not even personal or physical suffering of Jesus Himself, but the death of a friend. I've recently read that part of the reason for Jesus' "groaning in his spirit" and weeping was that the people around him had still not understood his power and the power of faith, but that is not what I took from this passage.

What I saw was Jesus sharing in the loss of a dear friend and the pain of his loved ones, and I thought, but Jesus of all people knows that death is not the end and Lazarus is in a better place. He even knew that he was going to bring Lazarus back and his family would rejoice. Why was their pain, and the sense of loss so great that Jesus wept? Why was the Son of God so moved by a temporary grief?

Suddenly it was absolutely clear. Jesus wept because he felt these things with every bit of the pain and loss of any other grieving friend. He was not distanced or insulated from us by his deity.

When He stepped from his glory into the world, he did not put on a human disguise as though it was a skin costume with a zipper up the back. Jesus felt the loss of a loved one, and the grief that would come to Lazarus on his temporary return from paradise. His hands were work hardened from the labor as a carpenter which would included stonework as well as wood shaping, and those were not simply borrowed muscles that would not be simply pierced as we often say, but torn through with rough, square spikes. His tolerance for pain were only those of the heart and body of an average man, and he had no greater endurance for the loss and hurt, loneliness and hunger, ridicule and torture than I have myself.

Even if I could imagine that I could endure such torment for others, I know I could only conceivably do it for those i loved and who loved me. Jesus did for those who despised Him then, and for the millions that would hate him, forget him, or ridicule him through the ages.

Jesus wept because he felt the loss and the pain of so many, and his helplessness to save those who will not be saved. Jesus wept even for my own emptiness, before I found the truth and glory that was Him.

Learn more about this author, Darrell Ferguson.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Your favorite verse in the Bible, and what it means to you?
We want to hear your view. Write now!