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The tears of Jesus

Text: John 11 : 17-44

THE TEARS OF JESUS

John’s skill in writing was never more certain than when he wrote the shortest sentence in his Gospel. Just two words and so much were communicated.

“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35

What did John seek to convey when he captured a beautiful glimpse of the heart of Jesus in this statement?

The Jews commented as they saw Jesus shed tears.

“See, how He loved him!”
John 11:36

The Jews have never impressed us as people who showed great perception and understanding. Their observation of “the obvious” is not likely the real reason for the tears of Jesus.

John had always portrayed Jesus as always calm and composed, no matter what circumstance He found Himself in. Even in the fiercest threat from the Jews, Jesus was unmoved. We will have to turn to other portions of the Scriptures to help us understand the tears of Jesus.

DEEP THEOLOGICAL INSIGHTS

The Book of Hebrews offers deep theological insights that help us understand the tears of Jesus.

1. The sympathetic heart of Jesus

Jesus felt the weaknesses of all the people around Him. His own Disciples had not fully understood Him. Martha and Mary who knew Him far better than many had not fully understood Him either. His heart of sympathy was deeply troubled as He thought about those who declared that they believed in Him. The Book of Hebrews describes His heart in these words.

“For we do not have a High Priest who
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…”
Hebrews 4:15

2. The spiritual battle that few knew about

There was a deep spiritual battle that Jesus fought even as He ministered on earth. There were times when this spiritual battle was made manifest. He healed many who were possessed by evil spirits.

One of the most outstanding instances of His battle with spiritual powers was illustrated when He healed a woman who “had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years” (Luke 13:11). Jesus described her condition as spiritual and not just physical. He described her as one whom “Satan has bound – think of it – for eighteen years” (Luke 13:16).

Few understood the deeper reasons why Jesus came to the world. They had not been able to even accept Him as the Christ, how could they understand the deep plans of God? The Book of Hebrews gives us this deep theological insight.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of
flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the
same, that through death He might destroy him
who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
and release those who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
Hebrews 2:14-15

Jesus was engaged in spiritual battle even as He confronted the death of Lazarus! He must release those who had been subject to bondage to the devil! Death was so final and thus frightening! What was death to Jesus? It was but sleep! But this view was only possible if there was deep faith in Him.

3. The lack of a matured faith on the part of the Disciples

Faith seemed to be such difficult commodity to obtain. Many struggled to believe.

a) They struggled to believe in Him as the Messiah sent from God despite many sign-miracles performed right before their eyes!

b) They struggled to believe at a deeper level, even if they came to believe that He was the Son of God. The Disciples had difficulty in growing their faith, though they had given up their all to follow Him!

There was so little time left to teach His Disciples. When would they have the requisite faith that would enable them to stand above all the sorrows of life? The Book of Hebrews described the problem of unbelief that plagued many from the earliest times.

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you
an evil heart of unbelief… lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin…”
Hebrews 3:12-13

The unbelief of the Jews was well described in these words.

“And some of them said, ‘Could not this Man who
opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept
this man from dying?’ “
John 11:37

4. Total Identification with Humanity

When Jesus put on flesh and became Incarnate (John 1:14), He also felt with people their deepest feelings and emotions. He felt with Martha and Mary their sorrow. He understood their sense of loss and emptiness when Lazarus died. He wept in understanding of how sin had so hurt humanity! It was sin that caused death to happen. It was sin that prevented people from seeing the redemption that He had come to offer the world. He would one day taste death for everyone. Jesus’ identification with man was so complete and profound. John wrote profound words indeed – “Jesus wept.”