Jesus Weeps

 

At the site of Jesus’ last miracle was recorded one of the shortest, yet perhaps the most poignant verses in the Bible, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35 NIV)

Like the Jews that witnessed this event, many of us believe that Jesus wept because His dear friend Lazarus had died. But was this the reason for Jesus’ tears?

If we go back to verse 33, we see that when Jesus saw Mary, Lazarus’ sister, and the Jews who’d come with her, sobbing, ”he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled”

Moving ahead to verse 38, we read that Jesus was “again sighing repeatedly and deeply disquieted”

Now armed with this information, let’s imagine the scene that has been set for us, keeping in mind that.

This was the same Mary who had sat at Jesus’ feet feeding on the Bread of Life (see Luke 10:39)

The same Mary who, standing at the entrance to Lazarus’ tomb along with her sister Martha, would have undoubtedly heard Jesus say to Martha,

Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God? (John 10:40 AMPC)

It was this same Mary, who Jesus considered a dear friend, loved and held in loving esteem (see John 11:5)

It was that same Mary who, in an offering of love and complete devotion giving herself in an act of humble submission and dependence would take, a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. (John 12:3 AMPC)

This same Mary who had chosen the one thing that was needful…

In other words, Mary knew Jesus intimately, yet lapsed into a state of unbelief, sobbing in agreement with those insincere Jews, at a time when her faith in Jesus should have been exercised and proven. And this is why Jesus wept!

Beloved, Jesus weeps when, after all that He Himself has revealed to you, and even after He has arrived on the scene, you still sob in unbelief.

Jesus desires that you believe, believe Who you know He is.

He wants you to have faith and not doubt.

Jesus wants you to agree with what you know and not with what you feel.

Jesus exhorts you to look at Him and not at the scene of your circumstances.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Jesus Weeps” ©2014 revisited November 4, 2025