Jesus Wept for Lazarus

Why Jesus Wept


Christianity Oasis Ministry has provided this Jesus Wept Bible verse quest seeking the real reason why Jesus wept for Lazarus in the Bible. We will look into that and all aspects of the Christian Walk. This enLIGHTening study will bring forth a smile to the lips and heart.

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Christian Walk Bible program. This is our awe inspiring and faith enhancing Jesus Wept Bible verse journey performing an extremely in depth search in an attempt to discover the true reason for why Jesus wept for Lazarus in the Bible and how the message within affects you today. The thought provoking and hope building message found hidden within this Why Jesus wept for Lazarus Bible verse study will truly enLIGHTen your be-YOU-tiful Christian path.


Jesus Wept Bible Verse

Why Jesus Wept for Lazarus in the Bible

Why Jesus Wept Truth

One of the most popular bits of Scripture is the Jesus Wept Bible verse. Many even use it in their day to day life when a crisis arises.

But ... Many want to know why Jesus wept in the Bible. Let us look into this together, shall we?

(John 11:35)

Jesus Wept is the shortest verse in the Bible with only two simple words ... Jesus wept. Talk about your ability to speak volumes with such brevity. "Jesus wept," are the two most precious words in the Bible to many. Most believe that Jesus was overcome with grief at the unexpected death of his beloved friend Lazarus, so naturally ... Jesus wept.

It is an endearing thought and may be true but, is this truly the only reason why Jesus wept?

To find the entire Truth of why Jesus wept, one must read the entire Chapter, not just the two words found in the Jesus Wept Bible verse and then imagine how we, as humans would feel and assume that is why Jesus wept.

So let us take a quick Jesus wept for Lazarus field trip and look into John, Chapter 11 to find the answer to ... Why Jesus wept.

John, Chapter 11

Why do you believe that Jesus wept?

Was He saddened at the loss of His friend? Was He saddened that his friend was dead? Was He overwhelmed with the feeling of sadness because everyone else was crying?

Let's do a little researching, shall we?

Verse 1

1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

So Lazarus was the name of the man who was sick and would die. He had two sisters named Martha and Mary.

Verse 2

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

This is very important as Jesus said that we were to share the story of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus each time we share the Gospel.

Matthew 26:13

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

So, we wanna get the name of who it was correct. It is Mary, the sister of Lazarus who anointed the feet of Jesus and not Mary Magdalene as some movies suggest such as "Jesus of Nazareth" ...

Back to John, Chapter 11.

Verse 3

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

So the sisters of Lazarus sent and told Jesus that His Friend was sick.

Verse 4

4 When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Why Jesus Wept for Lazarus Story

Keep this in mind as we proceed ... Jesus said at that time that the sickness was not unto death but would be used for the Glory of God. He was dead but, this death was not to be and Jesus knew this.

Verse 5

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

They were His friends.

Verse 6-7

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith He to His disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

Waited two days first huh? That is strange.

Verse 8

8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

There were those who sought to kill Jesus in Bethany and yet Jesus was going anyway.

Verse 9-10

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

Jesus was saying that Lazarus was in the darkness of death and that He was the Light. This is a Spiritual set of Words that He will elaborate on more a little later.

Verse 11

11 These things said He: and after that He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Jesus told the Apostles that the sickness of Lazarus had turned to death, which he called sleeping as many do in the Bible.

Verse 12-13

12 Then said His disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Jesus Wept Bible Verse Explained

The Apostles, understanding in a carnal manner ... Thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was actually sleeping.

Verse 14

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

There it is ... Lazarus was dead.

Verse 15

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Jesus is saying that He is glad that He Himself was not there in Bethany when He predicted the death of Lazarus so that they would believe because they heard before Jesus saw or heard that Lazarus was dead.

Verse 16

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Thomas definitely did not get it, did he?

Verse 17-18

17 Then when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off ...

Jesus Wept Bible verse tidbit of trivia ... Jesus arrived and Lazarus had been dead 4 days. Remember that Jesus waited two days before coming. Figure out why yet?

Verse 19-21

19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

So Martha came out to Jesus and said that she wished Jesus had been there because He could have prevented the death of her brother.

Verse 22

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus Wept Bible Verse Clues

This is very important ... She said she believed that if Jesus asked God for Lazarus to bring her brother back that God would.

Verse 23-24

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again but she thinks He means at the time of the Resurrection at the day of Judgment.

Verse 25-26

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

This is where Jesus elaborates a little more for us concerning why Jesus wept for Lazarus in the Bible. This is the part all of them had missed so far and would continue to misunderstand over the next few minutes. Jesus is speaking of a Spiritual Truth. That when we, as believers pass from this realm to the next ... Tho our physical being (flesh) is dead. We (our Souls) are alive and will receive eternal life.

Verse 27

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

She has verbally revealed her belief. But does she really believe?

Verse 28-32

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Sound familiar? This is what her sister Martha had just said.

Verse 33-37

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus Wept Bible Verse Interpretation
Why Jesus Wept for Lazarus Mystery

So they were following Jesus to the tomb and He heard them whispering.

Verse 38

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

What made Him groan again? The people's words asking the same thing the Martha, then Mary did that made Him troubled before.

Verse 39

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

You can feel the power in His Words. Move the stone. Just after He says that ... Here come more doubting words that grieve the Spirit within Him.

Verse 40

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Jesus Wept Bible verse wisdom ... Do you hear His pleas? These doubting words from a friend who just told Him a few minutes ago that she believed.

Verse 41-42

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

WoooooooHooooooo!
I would have loved to have been there.

Verse 44-45

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

They believed not His Word. Until after they saw.

Jesus Wept Bible Verse Understood
Why Jesus Wept in the Bible Brings Tears

So the answer to ... Why Jesus wept in the Bible?

Jesus did not weep when He heard His friend was sick. Jesus did not weep when He told His Apostles that Lazarus was dead. Jesus did not weep when Martha came up and spoke. In truth He responded with this ...

Verse 23-26

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

Then she responded with this:

Verse 27

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Then a few minutes later when Jesus was about to call him out of the grave, she said this:

Verse 39

39 Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Which had Jesus say this:

Verse 40

40 Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Here is a major why Jesus wept for Lazarus question ... Did Jesus not predict that the Glory of God would be seen? Did He not then know that He would be bringing His friend back to see this glory? He knew very well and had predicted to the fellas and to Martha. I am going to wake him up and he will live again. Meanwhile, on way to cave He heard the whispers of others doubt.

Therefore His Spirit was troubled again.

Verse 36-37

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

And again ... Jesus groaned.

Verse 38

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Have you figured out why Jesus wept yet?

He did not cry for Himself ... He did not cry because of how the death of a loved one affected Him. He did not cry because of the sting of Death.

Hear the truth ...

Verse 33, 35

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
35 Jesus wept.

Jesus Wept Bible Verse Brings Hope
Why Jesus Wept in the Bible is so Sad

He wept over the impact that death had on his friends and the people there, even after he told them that he would bring him back to life. These were His friends and after all they had heard and seen in the past ... They doubted. Just as they have doubted His Father for thousands of years and still do today. That is what made Him weep.

This is why Jesus wept.

Jesus was troubled and wept because of His friends inability to believe in Him despite all that they had heard and seen. In particular when Jesus knew this Truth that was to be the new way:

Verse 25-26

25 I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die ...

Why Jesus Wept Bible Verse Summary

So ... We know that believers are not dead when they pass from this realm to the next. In fact they are in Paradise and have Eternal life.

So why do we mourn when a loved one dies? Here is a better question ... Why do we not mourn when another's loved one dies?

Ponder on this ... What is there to cry about when a believer dies? Are not our tears from carnal and selfish thoughts? Are not the tears the tangible result of the doubt of His Promise?

It is said that mourning at the death of a loved one is natural and anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one will say, Amen. I know first hand exactly what it feels like. But, I found that knowing the Truth, that my loved one was alive ... Set me free from the sadness.

Now this does not suggest that we should not cry. God forbid. But there is a time for weeping and a time for rejoicing and I am talking about those who mourn for months, weeks, years and even the rest of their life. They are devouring their lives and the lives of those around them.

Hear what the Apple of God's eye said on the matter when his own child died and others asked him why he did not mourn?

2 Samuel 12:19-23

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

So the next time you Fear Death ... If you have a loved one that died, dying or will die ... You encounter another under these circumstances ... And the person in question is a believer in Jesus.

Let His words echo in your mind and heart:

Verse 25-26

25 I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die ...

The soul is alive in Paradise!

Learn More of Paradise