John 11:35, Jesus wept, John does not place those two words in a small moment, by the time Jesus weeps, he already knows Lazarus is going to live, he has already said the sickness will not end in death, he has already told his disciples Lazarus has fallen asleep and that he is going to wake him, he has already told Martha, your brother will rise again and not long after the tears, he will stand in front of the tomb and cry out, Lazarus, come forth.
So, the question is not only was Jesus sad? Yes, without pretending. The deeper question is this, why would Jesus weep when he already knew Lazarus was about to rise? That means John 11:35 cannot be reduced to a sentimental proof that Jesus had emotions, it reveals something more concentrated. The Savior who has authority over death is not emotionally distant from the people death has wounded, his tears do not cancel his power, they reveal the kind of Savior who holds that power and John shows it by making the scene heavier one step at a time.
A message comes from Bethany, Jesus waits, the sisters grieve, the mourners gather, the stone stays sealed and only after all of that, does the shortest verse in the Bible open up. Before there is a tomb, there is a road, Lazarus is sick, not casually sick, sick enough that his sisters send for Jesus, John 11:3, they do not give a speech, they do not list everything they have done for Jesus, they do not try to persuade him with urgency or emotion, they lean the entire request on one fact, Jesus loves him. The one you love is sick, that is the first pressure point in the chapter, the people Jesus loves are in danger and they are asking him to come.
John makes sure you understand the relationship, this is not a stranger in a crowd, this is Martha, this is Mary, this is Lazarus, this is the household in Bethany where Jesus was welcomed, known and loved. Then Jesus says something that only makes sense if he already sees the destination, John 11:4, that does not mean Lazarus will not actually die, Jesus will say plainly that Lazarus is dead, it means death will not be the final outcome of this sickness, the story will pass through death, but it will not end there. So, before the tears ever fall, John wants one thing settled, Jesus knows, he is not confused, he is not trapped, he is not rushing to fix a mistake, he names the final purpose before anyone else can see past the sickness, later when Jesus’ disciples misunderstand and think Lazarus is only sleeping, Jesus says plainly, Lazarus is dead.
So, the question is not only was Jesus sad? Yes, without pretending. The deeper question is this, why would Jesus weep when he already knew Lazarus was about to rise? That means John 11:35 cannot be reduced to a sentimental proof that Jesus had emotions, it reveals something more concentrated. The Savior who has authority over death is not emotionally distant from the people death has wounded, his tears do not cancel his power, they reveal the kind of Savior who holds that power and John shows it by making the scene heavier one step at a time.
A message comes from Bethany, Jesus waits, the sisters grieve, the mourners gather, the stone stays sealed and only after all of that, does the shortest verse in the Bible open up. Before there is a tomb, there is a road, Lazarus is sick, not casually sick, sick enough that his sisters send for Jesus, John 11:3, they do not give a speech, they do not list everything they have done for Jesus, they do not try to persuade him with urgency or emotion, they lean the entire request on one fact, Jesus loves him. The one you love is sick, that is the first pressure point in the chapter, the people Jesus loves are in danger and they are asking him to come.
John makes sure you understand the relationship, this is not a stranger in a crowd, this is Martha, this is Mary, this is Lazarus, this is the household in Bethany where Jesus was welcomed, known and loved. Then Jesus says something that only makes sense if he already sees the destination, John 11:4, that does not mean Lazarus will not actually die, Jesus will say plainly that Lazarus is dead, it means death will not be the final outcome of this sickness, the story will pass through death, but it will not end there. So, before the tears ever fall, John wants one thing settled, Jesus knows, he is not confused, he is not trapped, he is not rushing to fix a mistake, he names the final purpose before anyone else can see past the sickness, later when Jesus’ disciples misunderstand and think Lazarus is only sleeping, Jesus says plainly, Lazarus is dead.
