Jesus Wept

TITLE: JESUS WEPT

SCRIPTURE: ST. JOHN 11:35

This is the shortest verse in the Bible -- “JESUS WEPT.” But for all its grammatical simplicity, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity. No book has a higher Christology, the study of Christ, than the Gospel of John. His persistent focus on divinity is evident throughout --

• Instead of being born to Mary - Christ existed eternally

• Upon meeting someone for the first time - He knows their thoughts before they do

• Face-to-face with his execution - He is the one in control

• On the cross his life isn’t taken - He freely gives it away

• Although he located in time and space - Christ hovers just above the fray in his perfection, his feet never quite touching the ground of embodied experience

Except found here in this 11th Chapter, at the zenith of his narrative, John tells of an account with an uncharacteristically low Christology. Jesus has received word one of his best friends is nearing the end. You would think as any good friend would do that Jesus would rush to the bedside of his good friend. But the Bible makes it clear that he stayed still for a few days.

By the time he does arrive in Bethany a few days later, Mary and Martha meet him outside the cemetery with the tragic news, Lazarus is dead.

• Through the iron gates and past the surrounding headstones adorned with plastic bouquets, down to where the green tent with all the chairs beneath, is set up over a hole in the ground, Jesus falls to his knees overcome with the loss

• In the shortest and, arguably, most profound verse in scripture, JESUS WEPT

• With such emphasis on Christ everywhere else, why does John include this narrative about Jesus in his Gospel?

Have you ever stopped to wonder what could possibly bring tears to the eyes of God? Can you imagine the face of Jesus, moist with his own tears? Are they tears of weakness or of strength? Of fear or compassion? The Bible actually records three different times when Jesus cried, each time in a different place and for a different reason.

• Every single tear Jesus wiped from his cheek is meaningful and significant

• I would like for us to take a closer look at this occasion in the life of Christ and see just what it was that brought tears to the eyes of the Son of God!

Let me footnote here and remind us of the three occasions that we find our Savior shedding Tears.

• At the tomb - Jesus wept for a Hurting Family

• At Jerusalem - he wept for a Lost City

• In the Garden - He wept for a Cursed World

• The tears at the tomb were a small stream belonging to one Household

• The tears for Jerusalem were a river, belonging to an Entire Country

• And the tears in the Garden are an ocean, belonging to the Whole World

Jesus wept after speaking with Lazarus’s grieving sisters, Martha and Mary, and seeing all the mourners. That seems natural enough. Except that Jesus had come to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that in a few short minutes all this weeping would turn to astonished joy, and then tearful laughter, and then worship.

• So, one would think that Jesus would be confident, joyful calm in that storm of sorrow

• But he was “greatly troubled” and he wept

• Why?

One reason is simply the deep compassion that Jesus felt for those who were suffering. It is true that Jesus let Lazarus die.

• He delayed coming, and he did not speak healing from a distance like he did for the centurion’s servant

• He could have healed Lazarus by the REMOTE CONTROL OF HIS DIVINE POWER

• However, He did not

• His reasons were Good and Merciful and Glorious

• But this did not mean Jesus took the suffering it caused lightly

• LAMENTATIONS 3:33 - “FOR HE DOETH NOT AFFLICT WILLINGLY NOR GRIEVE THE CHILDREN OF MEN”

Even though Jesus always chooses what will ultimately bring his Father the most glory — and sometimes, as in Lazarus’s case, it requires affliction and grief — He does not take delight in the affliction and grief itself. No, Jesus is sympathetic. In Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus we get a glimpse of how the Father feels over the affliction and grief his children experience.

This verse may be the shortest verse in the bible, but it speaks volumes. Over the years this little verse has stirred more than a little curiosity.

• People wonder why exactly Jesus wept

• Some think it was simply because his friend Lazarus was dead