Jesus Wept - Pt 1

Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. (John 11:32-35 ESV). The shortest verse in the Bible is found in our reading today: “Jesus wept.” However, while short, it’s packed with unfathomable complexity. Jesus wept after speaking with Lazarus’ grieving sisters, Martha and Mary, and seeing all the mourners. That seems natural enough. Except that Jesus had come to Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that in a few short minutes all this weeping would turn to astonished joy, and then tearful laughter, and then worship. Knowing this Jesus was still “greatly troubled.” One reason is simply the deep compassion that Jesus felt for those who were suffering. It is true that Jesus let Lazarus die. He delayed coming, and he did not speak healing from a distance like he did for the centurion’s servant. His reasons were good and merciful and glorious. But this did not mean Jesus took the suffering it caused lightly. In Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus we get a glimpse of how the Father feels over the affliction and grief his children experience. The most common verb used in the Greek New Testament to refer to God’s compassion is splanchnizomai. This verb is only used twelve times. Once it is used of the Samaritan’s compassion for the wounded man, the other eleven uses refer to God’s compassion. In nine out of eleven occurrences where this verb is used of God’s compassion it refers to the compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ as his motivation for healing! It is an important word to understand. The nominal form of this word originally referred to the inner parts of a man, the heart, liver, and so on. It could be used of the inward parts of a sacrificial animal, but it became common to use this word in reference to the lower parts of the abdomen, the intestines, and especially the womb. Some theologians have felt that this term was too rough or graphic to be used in reference to God’s compassion. Using the word for “intestines” to refer to God’s compassion is like using the word “guts” for courage in modern English. We have often heard it said, “He really has guts.” I think the New Testament writers meant to do exactly this. They were declaring the readers the power and the force of God’s compassion. They may also have had in mind a physical feeling associated with compassion. The choice of such a graphic word served to impress the New Testament Christians that God’s compassion for them was rooted in his deep love for them and his sensitivity to their pain. Jesus doesn’t take our suffering lightly. He feels it deeper and responds in love and purpose. Trust Him!