Jesus Wept…why?

What is the shortest verse in the Bible? Yes, that is correct, “Jesus Wept” (John 11:35), but have you ever asked yourself the question, or better still, have you ever asked God why Jesus wept?. All through life we have been taught that Jesus wept because Lazarus had died. Let’s see what the bible actually has to say about it. You will need your Bible to read and follow along as we see the real reason that Jesus wept. Turn to John Chapter 11 and let’s begin!

As the chapter opens in verse one we see that Lazarus was a sick man from Bethany, the town of Mary and Martha, her sister. This was the same Mary that anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair. The same Mary that made her way through the room that day with one thought in mind… regardless of what the disciples thought, or any one else in that room that day she was determined to anoint the head of the Lord with the ointment. And she did. This was a determined and diligent act on her part, but she knew what had to be done. As the verses continue, we see that “Mary and Martha sent unto Jesus saying, Lord, behold he whom thou lovest is sick.” 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.”

Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. But I want you to look carefully at the next verse… what did Jesus do.. did he immediately upon hearing of Lazarus’ sickness, drop everything, and go immediately to his side? Did he stop what He was doing and get together a group to start praying? Did he call all the elders or disciples together and share with them the news and ask them to join him in prayer? No… “he abode two days still in the same place where he was”. Yes, I know, most of you are thinking the same thing… this doesn’t sound like love to me! But it was, but it was not the love for Lazarus, it was the love that Jesus had for the Word of God spoken to him about Lazarus. Verse 4 tells us that. Jesus knew that Lazarus was not going to die. He said so right from His own mouth…He knew that God was going to use this situation to bring glory to himself. Jesus knew this… and stated it with confidence to those sent of Mary and Martha, people who were professing to love him and know him. Who had just earlier, anointed him with ointment when others objected. Now let’s move on…

Verse 7 tells us, “then after that (after staying two more days after hearing the news) saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.” Yes, you are reading it right… our Lord who loved Lazarus, after hearing the news of his sickness, not only stayed two days in the same place he was, but was going on into Judaea, where the Jews had planned on stoning him, and which was in a different direction than Bethany, where Lazarus was. You can see that even to the disciples it didn’t make any sense and they questioned him about it. Then we see Jesus’ answer and also we see Jesus making a statement, which the disciples took to mean that Lazarus was just resting. However as you read on, in Verse 14, you see Jesus making a direct and in-fact-to statement…”Lazarus is dead”. Jesus was a bit irritated at the disciples at this time, he said he was glad they were not there, for their sakes, so that they may believe. Now think about this. Jesus is talking to the disciples, which were walking, talking, eating, sleeping, drinking, and living right along side of Jesus. They were hearing His words direct, and even had the opportunity to ask him questions about the things that he said so they could understand, and they still didn’t get it. They still did not believe what He said.

As the verses continue, we see the disciples wanting to go and die with Lazarus… not a typical response of people who know and believe the word of Jesus… Right.. but nevertheless, the truth. Then we see Jesus entering the city of Bethany and coming to meet him was Martha and some of the Jews (God’s people again) which were mourning the death of Lazarus. (Yes, he was in the tomb 4 days at this point). Martha begins by blaming Jesus… she said, “Lord if you had been here, my brother had not died.” Then she said she knew that whatever Jesus asked of God, God would give him wanting Jesus to ask God to raise Lazarus from the dead. But what was Jesus’ reply? Did he agree with her about God answering his request? Did he make excuses to her for not coming directly and immediately? Did he try to comfort her and the other Jews with her that were mourning Lazarus death…. NO! He told her again, directly to her face this time, “thy brother shall rise again”.

At this point, Martha says she knows that Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.. (which is another message all together but we won’t deal with that at this point)…but what did Jesus tell her when she said this? Verse 25, reads “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”…Jesus again told her WHO HE WAS, and that Lazarus would live, and then asked her if she believed him. Of course, like lots of us, Martha said I believe thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she said so, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying the Master is come, and calleth for thee”.

See what is happening here so you can understand fully what this is all about… What happened? Jesus again told Martha, and gave HIS WORD, and Martha said she believed, however she didn’t say that she believed that Lazarus would live… she said she believed that Jesus was Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. She never said she believed Lazarus would live like Jesus told her. Then look what she did… she knew that Jesus was questioning her faith, and when the point was that she should have been examining herself, what did she do…she went to get someone else, (Mary) but look how she did it. The Bible says that she “went secretly”, and also told a lie. Jesus didn’t tell Martha to go get Mary and have her come to him, Martha told Mary a lie to get Mary to come to Jesus. Why? The word isn’t definite on this point. One answer comes to mind… remember earlier when Mary was at the feet of Jesus, and Martha was running around busy with preparing food for the group there visiting with Jesus, Martha asked Jesus to make Mary help, and He didn’t. In fact, he got on Martha about being more involved with the “things” than the “word”! (My paraphrase) So Martha probably had it in her mind that Jesus loved Mary more than her and would tell her something different. But what happened?

When Mary heard what Martha said, verse 29 says she arose quickly and came unto him. Jesus had not gotten into town yet, he was still on the way to Bethany, and in fact the word says that he hadn’t moved from the place where Martha met him by the time Mary got to him. (Jesus didn’t seem to be in any hurry here either… think about it!) Then when Mary rose up, the Jews that were with her in the house rose with her and “hastily” went out, followed her, saying she’s going to the grave to weep there. (Blind leading the blind and both falling in the ditch..I know not in this story, but it fits…Right!) Now what happens when Mary gets to Jesus. She falls at his feet and said the same thing that Martha said… she blamed Jesus for Lazarus’ death. (By this point, I hope you are seeing the truth in this message… but if not, let’s go on!). Verse 33 reads, “when Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, HE GROANED IN THE SPIRIT, AND WAS TROUBLED.” Jesus was upset! What did he say to Mary? Did he compassionately comfort her and reassure her? Did he lift her up from the ground and tell her AGAIN that everything was going to be all right? NO! What did he say?

Verse 34, “Where have ye laid him?” They told Jesus to come see, then Jesus wept. Then when the Jews saw him, they made the statement that everyone else has used to explain why Jesus wept… the Jews said “behold how he loved him!. And then they questioned among themselves if Jesus could opened eyes of the blind, could not he have caused that even this man (Lazarus) should not have died? They are still asking questions at this point. Boy, did they miss it! And so have we!

Verse 38 says, “Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave and gave a commandment. “Take ye away the stone”. No sweet, compassionate words. No words of condolences, not even words of rebuke at this point. Jesus was not weeping the death of Lazarus. If he had been, He would have been openly admitting that he didn’t believe his own words, nor the Words of God! Think about it!

Jesus was not weeping because Lazarus was dead! He was weeping because prophetic word had taught these people who Jesus was and what he would do, then Jesus had sent a messenger to Martha and Mary which told them, and had now told them to their faces that Lazarus would live, and yet they were still weeping and crying and didn’t BELIEVE HIM! Martha was even worried about Lazarus stinking up the place! Great sign of belief on her part..Right!

Now look with me at verse 40, you will see Jesus’ words. “Said I not unto thee, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Jesus reminded them of what He said again. Then and only did they remove the stone, but the awesome part of this message which clearly let’s us know that what I am sharing with you is correct.

Verses 41 through 46. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank thee that thou HAST HEARD ME. (past tense, he had already gotten God’s word on the matter) and I know that thou hearest me always, (confirming his confidence in God’s word), 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, 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. Then many of the Jews (God’s people) which came with Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him, but some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus had done.” Again, we see it clearly. Jesus said it.. He knew God heard him always, and that whatever he ask, he received, and he knew that Lazarus was not dead, but that God was going to be glorified in what was to be done. It was to fulfill God’s words through the prophets and to complete the will of God for his people, yet they still did not believe HIM!. He said it best, “BUT BECAUSE OF THE PEOPLE WHICH STAND BY I SAID IT; THAT THEY MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME.” Then we see again, that even the Jews which were with Mary, heard the words of Jesus and saw Lazarus come forth, still didn’t believe HIM!

NOW YOU KNOW WHY JESUS WEPT! Here is the question….and please think about it before you speak… don’t be like Martha and just say something that sounds right…. “Said I not unto thee, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” Is Jesus weeping because YOU DON’T BELIEVE HIM EITHER?

Please think about it. Examine yourself, unlike Martha, who went to get someone else involved. Take a good look, and read the Word of God, if you are not believing the Word of God, and seeing the Glory of God in your life, today is the day for you to change! For Jesus said it from his own mouth, “Said I not unto thee, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”