Jesus Wept (John 11:35)

Jesus wept (John 11:35 NAS95).

Jesus did not weep for Lazarus; He knew well that He would raise Lazarus from the dead.  Instead, He wept for the souls of those who still did not believe that He was the Resurrection and the Life. Read what He said to His disciples.

. . . He *said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep." The disciples then said to Him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. So Jesus then said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him" (John 11:11-15 NAS95).

Why would Jesus say He was glad for their sake that Lazarus had died? Clearly, Jesus was not mourning Lazarus's death. He was grieving over the spiritual deadness of their hearts. Of course He also felt their pain, but I doubt that was the main reason He wept.

Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, and said, "Where have you laid him?" They *said to Him, "Lord, come and see" (John 11:32-34 NAS95).

Again, He was moved and troubled by their lack of belief in HIm. It sounds like Mary almost accuses Jesus of not caring when she says, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus *said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. "I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me." When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go" (John 11:40-44 NAS95).

The question is this: Do you believe what Jesus said when He stated, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die (John 11:25b-26 NAS95)?

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). Amen.