What does Jesus weeping in John 11:35 teach about His divine nature? The Shortest Verse, the Deepest Revelation “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) Setting the Scene • Bethany: Lazarus is four days in the tomb, Mary and Martha grieving, mourners wailing. • Jesus arrives knowing He will raise Lazarus (John 11:4, 23), yet He still cries. • The miracle is moments away, so the tears must carry theological weight, not mere helpless sorrow. What the Tears Reveal about God Himself • Divine Compassion – Psalm 145:8: “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.” – Jesus embodies that very character; His tears are God’s compassion made visible. • Divine Empathy, Not Detachment – Isaiah 63:9: “In all their distress, He too was distressed.” – God is not a distant clockmaker. The Incarnate Son feels with His people, proving that empathy resides within the divine nature. • Divine Holiness Confronting Death – John 11:33 notes Jesus was “deeply moved,” a term carrying indignation. The Creator confronts the intruder called death, displaying holy anger wrapped in tears. – 1 Corinthians 15:26: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” His weeping foreshadows that victory. • Divine Love in Action – John 11:36: “See how He loved him!” The mourners rightly read His tears as love. – 1 John 4:8: “God is love.” Jesus’ tears are the living demonstration of that essential divine attribute. Union of Natures, One Person • Full Humanity: Real emotions, salty tears, genuine sorrow. • Full Deity: Omniscient awareness of imminent resurrection, yet choosing to feel the moment. • Hebrews 4:15: “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” The verse presupposes His deity while highlighting His shared experience. Why a Weeping God Matters to Us • Shows God’s heart is engaged with our pain—He does not merely observe; He participates. • Confirms that God’s sovereignty and compassion coexist harmoniously—omnipotence does not cancel tenderness. • Assures us that every tear will ultimately be answered by Resurrection power (Revelation 21:4). • Models righteous emotion for believers: grief and faith need not be mutually exclusive. Key Takeaways • Jesus’ tears prove that divine nature includes compassion, empathy, and holy love. • Deity does not diminish emotion; it perfects it. • The God who will wipe away all tears once shed His own, guaranteeing He understands ours. |
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