John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
It is simple in sentence structure – subject/ verb – no adjectives, prepositional phrases, or direct object. Descriptively, the reader can visualize Jesus, His shoulders moving, His body bent over, hands covering His face, and the sound of one in deep regret, resonating throughout the house. The word cried would not be strong enough. Wept depicts sorrow – a deep, painful emotional display of complete and utter sadness.
Even though it is declared the shortest verse in the Bible, I believe those two words have more sustenance than any other. On the one hand it shows Jesus’ deep love for Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. “Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!'” (36). It also could be interpreted as frustration. Jesus had been very busy and knew Lazarus was sick. Mary reminded Him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (32). Probably those who witnessed His sorrow decided He felt discouraged because He had let Mary and Martha down. Interestingly though, earlier in the week, Jesus had told His disciples (11) “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
So why the tears?
If Jesus knew (and He did) that He was going to Lazarus’ grave to resurrect Him, why was He emotionally distraught? In John 11:16, “So then He told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
This verse, “Jesus wept,” more than any other in the Bible, shows the deep connection between God, you, and me. Jesus knew He was going to save the day. He knew that Mary and Martha were going to dance and sing. He knew Lazarus was going to enjoy many more days of life. The disciples and other people of the village would be able to witness an incredible testimony of God’s power and abilities. I don’t know about you, but if I knew I was the solution to everyone’s immediate problem, I would walk in the door like Captain America with my hands on my hips and declare, “I’m here to save the day! Let me through people!”
We aren’t just God’s divinely designed creation. He didn’t make us and move on. God is connected so deeply with our souls that when we hurt – He hurts; when we laugh – He laughs; and when we weep – He weeps.
I remember as a teenager coming home after a tough day at school. Some girls had been mean to me and I didn’t want to go back to school. My grandmother listened intently to all that I had to say and somewhere in the middle of my explanation tears rolled down her cheeks. She was FOR me and the mere fact that she shared my sadness equipped me with boldness.
The reason Jesus wept that day was because He felt the sorrow of those He loved and because of the all consuming love He had for them, He grieved with them. Even though He had the answer, He experienced their pain.
The reality of the verse is as simple as the verse itself. Everything we do, say, do not do, do not say, effects our Heavenly Father. When we sin, how deep His emotions must be! When tragedy falls upon our lives, He feels every tear. And even though He knows the outcome of our situation, He walks through it with us anyway.
God is FOR you…wherever you find yourself…in tragedy; in sin; in joy; in sorrow…from beginning to end and thereafter.
