Joh 11:33 | KingComments | STEP | Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval. Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. ). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away. Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings. The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times ( ). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other. Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from .

‏ John 11:33

Jesus Wept

Although the Lord Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and although He knows that in a few moments He will raise Lazarus from the dead, He also has an eye for the sorrow that death brings. With Him it is more than just human compassion for the loss of a loved one, although it is also that. More than anyone else – and in fact, it is only the case with Him – He is indignant about the power of death. He fully senses the power of the enemy who exercises his authority through death, not only over Mary and the Jews, but over all human beings. His indignation concerns death. The words “deeply moved” means feeling or expressing a strong disapproval.

Then, although He knows where Lazarus lies, He asks the way to the tomb. If the Lord Jesus asks questions, it is not because He needs information from us. With His questions He wants to reveal the hidden part of the heart of the one He asks His questions to. He invites us to tell Him everything. We are allowed to take Him along to and in our grief. He wants to be there with us and go through it with us. His indignation about satan’s power through sin does not negate His sympathy (cf. Mt 8:17). He never reveals only strength, nor is it only compassion. In His spirit He carries every case of sickness that He heals, whereas His power takes it away.

Here it is not about sickness, but about the even greater havoc death has wrought in a family He loves. That does not mean that He lets Himself be guided by His feelings. Feelings never have the upper hand with Him, as is often the case with us. Every feeling in Christ is perfect according to kind and measure, appropriate to every occasion. It is all perfect in God’s eye. How precious that is for us as well. The Lord really sheds tears that express His inner feelings.

The Jews deduce from His tears that He is saddened by the loss of a loved one. Certainly, the Lord loved Lazarus. This is also witnessed several times (Jn 11:3 ; 5). But they have no awareness that He weeps for death as the terrible consequence of sin. What matters to Him is the cause of death. That He feels like no other.

Some others don’t think the Lord’s weeping is really justified. He could have prevented Lazarus from dying, couldn’t He? Someone Who can open the eyes of the blind man could also have ensured that Lazarus would have recovered. In this way we can also reason when we wonder why the Lord heals the one, and the other He does not heal. Then it comes down to trusting Him in the way He goes with each of His sheep. We also know the answer from Jn 11:4.