Jesus Wept
By Kurt Bomar
Avery County
John 11:35
As we have just experienced the Easter season, this is a good time to look at the shortest verse in the Bible. Jesus is just days away from the cross and we see some deep emotion in him as he weeps. Why is he weeping? He has just arrived at the house of Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Lazarus has just died four days earlier. The funeral is in process.
If I put myself in Jesus’ place, I still don’t see why he is weeping. I wouldn’t. I would be joyful and say “Hey guys, stop crying, I’m here, I’m going to raise Lazarus. Let’s get ready for a party!” So why was he weeping?
Let’s examine some possibilities:
- Perhaps he was reminded of the effects of sin. Maybe he was thinking “This wasn’t our plan from the beginning. I’m saddened that my buddy, Lazarus, has to suffer because of the fall of man.”
- Some say he was saddened because he knew Lazarus was in paradise and he was about to yank him out of there.
- He could have been sad because he had been ministering for three years now and still there was unbelief in him by Mary, Martha, and the other mourners. Mary blamed him for her brother’s death.
However, I think maybe the main reason is that Jesus was fulfilling prophecies. Remember what Isaiah said about him. He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3).
Maybe even though he knew everything was going to eventually turn out OK, he looked around right then and saw all the hurting people. This sounds so simple, but I think it’s true.
Hebrews tells us that as our High Priest, he sympathizes with us, he feels for us, and that he prays on behalf of us to the Father. We often focus on Jesus as God, but sometimes we forget that he was a man too.
I like that.
When I’m hurting, I want someone who cares for me. I want someone who sees me as a good friend. Someone who says “ouch” when I cut or burn myself. That’s what I see here. That’s why he was crying. And that’s why we can be confident that when we are hurting, Jesus, our best friend is hurting too.
As we remember Easter, remember that while Jesus loves us, he likes us too!
Selah (think about it)
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Kurt Bomar is the Assistant Pastor of Walnut Grove Church located in Avery County. You are welcome to join them on Sundays at 11:00 AM for worship! (When we are allowed to meet in the building again). You can read more Christian news from Kurt Bomar HERE.
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