In our Wednesday evening Bible Study we have been looking at the account of the resurrection of Lazarus, found only in John 11:1-44. Here is a quick review of what we have looked at so far:
Jesus has left the vicinity of Jerusalem to avoid hostile religious leaders (John 10:38-40). While gone, He receives word that a good friend, Lazarus, is sick (John 11:3). In fact, Lazarus has died by the time this message reaches Jesus. He purposefully waits a few days before returning to Bethany, arriving four days after Lazarus’ burial (John 11:17). As he arrives Jesus is met outside the village by Lazarus’s sister Martha, the more pragmatic of the two sisters. Jesus deals with her on a doctrinal level. He first listens to her as she states her frustrations and faith, then He tells her that He is the resurrection and the life and that all who believe in Him will never die. And then He ask her if she believes this. Martha states that she does in fact believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (John 11:17-27). Then in John 11:28-37 we have the account of Jesus’ interaction with Lazarus’s other sister Mary. This interaction took place on a more emotional level, and it is in this section that we have one of the shortest and most popular verses in all of Scripture: “Jesus wept” John 11:35. Jesus shared in the grief of those who were mourning.
Jesus wept: There are many aspects to these two words. First it shows us the humanity of Jesus. Jesus was truly a man. John 1:4; Philippians 2:5-11; and Hebrews 2:17-18 are just three passages that affirm this fact. Do you wrestle more with the God-ness of Jesus, or with his humanity? That Jesus of Nazareth was truly and fully human was plain enough to those who saw and heard and touched and shared life with him. No one questioned his humanity during his ministry. What was not apparent at first and revealed carefully and convincingly in his life and resurrection, was that he also was God.
The fact that Jesus wept also shows us that Jesus was not ashamed of His humanity. Hebrews 2:11 (NIV) Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
The fact that Jesus wept shows us that there is no sin or shame in tears. Jesus dignified the tears of others in the Bible who wept, and all who weep. Abraham wept at the death of Sarah (Genesis 23:1-2). Jacob wept aloud when he met Rachel (Genesis 29:11). David and Jonathan wept together (1 Samuel 20:41). Hezekiah wept over his illness (2 Kings 20:3). Jeremiah was the weeping prophet (Jeremiah 13:17).
The fact that Jesus wept shows us that Jesus was acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. And because of this he can identify with others in their sorrow. We see that in this story when Jesus weeps and we see Him living out the command to us in Romans 12:15 to mourn with those who mourn.
Finally, the fact that Jesus wept shows that Jesus genuinely loves us. Romans 12:9 says that love must be sincere, and 1 Corinthians 13 gives us a detailed description of what true, biblical, genuine, sincere love looks like and Jesus lived out those principles every day of his life.