Jesus Wept
What the shortest verse in the New Testament teaches us about God, faith, and life
WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ
It is likely that you are familiar with the story of Lazarus being raised by Jesus from the dead. It is a wonderful story, to be sure, about the power that Jesus has over the laws of nature and the ability of his words to perform the miraculous. However, there is an aspect of this story that warrants some further insight. When we are told of Lazarus’ passing, we find an important statement:
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
John 11:32-36
The story is a whirlwind of emotion, and things are happening quickly. Yet, in the midst of this storm, we find a peculiar, phrase: Jesus wept. The phrase is small yet powerful, so much so that tradition has deemed it necessary to be its own verse (11:35). The phrase is even more perplexing in light of the context, for we know the story ends with Lazarus being risen from the dead. So what gives? Why is Jesus sad when he knows he will just raise his friend back to life?
There are a few major insights we can glean from this phrase:
Jesus is both God and Man
“Learning that Jesus wept has profound implications for the way we understand who Jesus is.”
Learning that Jesus wept has profound implications for the way we understand who Jesus is. He is not some demigod appearing in only human form. No, he is the word of God, made flesh (John 1:14). He became truly man and experienced the same range of emotions that we ourselves experience – yet without sin. Jesus’ weeping reassures us that he was in fact incarnate among us – truly participating in our humanity in order to redeem it.
Jesus is compassionate
Not only is Jesus both God and man, he is also enormously compassionate. His tears give us insight into the love he had for his friend, and how he longs for the life of all. He does not shy away from the dirtiness of the grave – a dirtiness that is ritually unclean according to the Law (Numbers 19:11).
Jesus hates sin
“Jesus’ tears show us how broken his heart is over the effects of sin upon creation”
Jesus’ tears show us how broken his heart is over the effects of sin upon creation. He doesn’t hate the sinner, rather, he hates the consequences of sin – death. He understands the destruction and decay that sin have imposed upon the people he loves, and he feels the effects as any man would – only exponentially greater.
Unbind Him
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
John 11:43-44
Jesus’ tears are followed by a righteous anger. Once Lazarus is risen from the dead, he commands the bystanders to unbind him, and release him from these markers of death. In an interesting way, this gives us a glimpse into the greater Gospel narrative, where he resurrects each of us, setting us free from the cords of death once and for all – as we look forward to hearing Jesus call our own name up from the grave and into his light.
Article written by Drew Matz
A native of Southeastern Ohio, Drew moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he earned an MA in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, cultivating a love for Historical Theology and Biblical Languages. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Franklin University. Being from the Appalachian Foothills, Drew is passionate about the outdoors and the natural wonder it inspires. Drew currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and daughter.