John chapter eleven starts with Lazarus being sick. Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha. It seems that they had lost hope of him getting better because they sent a messenger to Jesus telling Him that the one He loves is sick. Jesus could have just spoken the words and Lazarus would have been healed, something that the sisters probably knew. At least, they knew that Jesus could come and heal their brother. Jesus does something that seems a little odd after hearing about the sickness. He didn’t rush to be with Lazarus or speak and heal him. Instead, Jesus waited another two days before going to see Lazarus.
Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus was sleeping and that Jesus was going to wake him up. Jesus was saying that Lazarus had already died. When arriving at the tomb and talking with the sisters they stated that Lazarus had been dead for four days. It is possible that Lazarus was already dead when the messenger reached Jesus. Jesus waited two more days so that there would be no natural reason for Lazarus to come back to life.
Jesus makes another “I AM” claim in these verses after telling the sisters that their brother would rise again. They didn’t understand but agreed that in the last days he would rise, but that wasn’t much comfort for them. Jesus explains that those that believe in Jesus will never die.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die — ever. Do you believe this? ””
John 11:25-26 HCSB ( https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.11.25-26.hcsb )
We all know people that believe in Jesus but yet they die and one day we will also die. Jesus was talking about spiritual death. Once we believe in Jesus as our Savior we are made spiritually alive in Him and spiritually we will never die. Our bodies will die, but our spirit will live on, then at the last days we will be given a new body and we will dwell in the New Jerusalem in the New Earth that God will recreate for us. We will forever live in the presence of God, without sin and death.
In 11:35 we find the shorted verse in the Bible. “Jesus wept.” Those looking on at the events unfolding; thought that Jesus wept because of His great love for Lazarus. Others didn’t think this because they believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus if only He had gotten there in time. Did Jesus weep because of Lazarus’ death? Why would He? Jesus knew what He was going to do. Jesus knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead so it would seem odd to cry about the temporary state of death that Lazarus was in. Was He moved to weeping by the tears of the sisters? I don’t think so. It seems that Jesus was moved to tears not because of sadness, but because of anger. Two times we are told that Jesus was angry.
“33. When Jesus saw her crying, and the Jews who had come with her crying, He was angry in His spirit and deeply moved. 38. Then Jesus, angry in Himself again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.” John 11:33, 38 HCSB ( https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.11.33,38.hcsb )
Why Jesus was angry? It could have been because of the pain and sorrow that death causes people to suffer. Suffering and sorrow because of death are a part of life, but it wasn’t that way until Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. God had designed us to live forever and to be in fellowship with Him. Until death entered because of sin. Or, maybe it was because of their disbelief in Jesus being the resurrection and the life? When Jesus told them to remove the stone Martha rejected saying He’s been dead for four days. As if Jesus couldn’t do anything to help because death had already won the victory over Lazarus. Jesus replied:
“Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God? ””
John 11:40 HCSB ( https://www.bible.com/72/jhn.11.40.hcsb )
If you believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life then you will see the glory of God. Believe and you will have eternal life. It seems that both reasons for Jesus weeping could be equally valid. He was angry at death and sin, but also at disbelief. Don’t reject the resurrection and life that comes from faith in Jesus. It is the only way to overcome sin and death.
Questions for reflection:
Why do you think Jesus wept?
Have you trusted in Jesus and received eternal life?
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