Jesus Wept

“Jesus Wept.” John 11:35. Two little words. The shortest verse in the Bible. But why did He cry?

Did He cry because His friend Lazarus had died? I don’t think so. He knew before he died that he was going to die. He could have come sooner to heal him. But just like the story of the man blind since birth in John 9, “This came about so that God’s work might be displayed.”​

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Martha met him, saying, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21). And when he arrived at their home, Mary ran to him. “She fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you hadst been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:32). They both had faith that Jesus could have healed Lazarus. Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise again.  She understood that he would rise to everlasting life in Heaven. But they were putting limitations on what Jesus could do. Even when Martha confessed that Jesus was “The Messiah, the Son of God,” she still had a limited understanding of exactly what that meant. This is why “Jesus Wept”.

Jesus cannot be placed in a box. He has no limitations. When He told them to roll away the stone holding Lazarus’ body inside, Martha tried to stop them. She said, “There is already a stench because he has been dead for four days.” (John 11:39). She still had doubts. As strong as her faith was, she still doubted.

Jesus could have rushed to Lazarus’ side before he died. He could have healed him from where He was, before he died, like the son of the royal official. (John 4:46-54). But He wanted God’s work to be displayed. He did it so she “could see the glory of God” (John 11:40).  Jesus did this to demonstrate God’s glory, power, and authority to all those present.

With eyes turned to Heaven, to His Father, Jesus thanked God for having heard Him. Jesus had already prayed, asking God to heal Lazarus. God had already heard His prayer before Lazarus had died. This prayer wasn’t for healing. God had already done that. This prayer was so that all those there, not just Martha and Mary, might believe that He was the Messiah, sent by God. When He had their attention, He shouted, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43). Now, it’s important to note here that Jesus said, “Lazarus, come out”. Jesus was God incarnate. Jesus had authority over life and death. All life. If Jesus had just said, “Come out”, all the dead would have risen.

With this, Jesus showed them He was the Messiah, the Son of God. He was showing them that He was the fulfillment of all the scriptures. Isaiah 35:5-6 says, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing”.  He was showing them He was Lord.

Jesus wept because they didn’t understand, they didn’t fully believe. But then, “many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him” (John 11:45). And Jesus wept because “some of them went their ways to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done” (John 11:46). Jesus wept because He knew his time was short.  “From that day forth they took counsel together to put him to death” (John 11:53). Jesus knew what must happen. He was the Lamb of God (John 1:36). Isaiah 53:2-8 foretold His rejection by men. How He was to bear our sins and be wounded for our transgressions. The Jewish Passover was near, and He knew His time was close.

And so, Jesus wept.