Jesus wept.
“When Jesus wept over the death of Lazarus, what do we learn about the humanity of Jesus?”
I have always been fascinated by the dual divinity and humanity of Christ. I’m intrigued by the fact that Jesus is fully God, and yet fully man at the same time. Two such identities should not be able to coexist in the same body, no? Scripture clearly says otherwise. Jesus was certainly God in human flesh, and the human flesh was not diminished by his divinity. Jesus was indeed fully divine, and fully human. This means that in his divinity, he understood and emanated the things of heaven; but in his humanity, he felt and experienced the things of earth.
The Gospel of John is my favorite Gospel to read, and for many reasons. One such reason is that I like how Jesus reveals himself in seven “I am” statements, using language that harkens back to Mosaic times and burning bushes and golden calves. The seven “I am” statements progress in importance throughout John’s gospel, and they all culminate in this final “I am” statement and miraculous sign.
As the story is told by John, found in chapter 11 of his gospel, Jesus gets word from Mary and Martha that their brother Lazarus was ill. John tells us that Jesus loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus, but then proceeds to tell us that Jesus did not hasten to see Lazarus on his death bed – in fact, he remained where he was for two more days. Why? Jesus answers this himself a few verses later. The disciples learn from Jesus that Lazarus has died.
First, Jesus tells them that Lazarus has “fallen asleep” and that he must go and awaken him. The disciples were confused by this, thinking that this meant Lazarus would recover. Jesus tells them plainly then, “Lazarus has died.” Then Jesus says something interesting to the disciples: “…for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe.” He allows the disciples, Mary, and Martha to feel the sorrow and pain of losing a loved one because Jesus knew what was coming next. He knew that this upcoming display of his miraculous resurrection power would lead to deeper faith on the part of those disciples who would witness this event.
When Jesus and the disciples arrive in Bethany, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. This means that Lazarus likely died soon after Mary and Martha sent word of his illness to Jesus. Mary and Martha are upset, angry, and heartbroken – understandably so. I wonder if they sent word to Jesus hoping that he would suddenly appear at that time and heal Lazarus of his illness. I wonder how they felt, sitting there for four days after their brother had died, waiting for Jesus to come. I wonder if they sat there in their grief and anger, but with a sliver of hope still present. When Jesus finally arrives, Martha goes out to greet him where he has come to the edge of the village, and Mary stayed inside the house. Perhaps one sister had a little more hope in her heart, and the other had a little more pain.
Jesus tells Martha that her brother “will rise again,” and Martha understands him to be referring to the end-time resurrection. This would have been consistent with the beliefs of most first-century Jews, and the Pharisees in particular. Jesus then makes his big statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Martha responds in the affirmative: “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Jesus’ statement here is full of significant references and claims. Ultimately, this is a claim to deity, as the other “I am” statements are. Those listening would recognize that these statements were alluding to something more than what was being said or done on the surface. Although, it seems these deeper connotations are often looked over. Here, Jesus is not just saying that he will bring about the resurrection, or even that he will be the cause of the resurrection, but that he is the resurrection and the life.
While there is much more that I could say on this, I want to return your focus to what caught my attention as I was reading and pondering the deity and humanity of Christ. John is not finished with the story yet.
Finally, we see Mary come out to meet Jesus after Martha tells her that he is now inside the village. Mary, upon seeing Jesus, fell at his feet and wept. She poured out her grief, and a lost sense of hope in her statement: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” The text tells us that when Jesus saw Mary’s reaction and her grief, “he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.”
The interesting thing about the term that was used beneath the translated “deeply moved,” is that it is a term not often used, and it has very strong emotional connotations. This term, embrimaomai (ἐμβριμάομαι), which only appears twice in the New Testament, means to feel something deeply and strongly – particularly in the human sense. Jesus was moved with profound sorrow at the death of his friend, and the grief that those around him were experiencing. Another translation option (indignant) indicates that anger is another emotion involved in the meaning behind this term. Emphasizing this human emotion and sorrow that Jesus is experiencing is that the text states that Jesus was moved “in his spirit.” This is referring to Jesus’ own human spirit, not the Holy Spirit.
Jesus asked where Lazarus had been laid to rest, and the other Jews showed him to Lazarus’ tomb. Then, the famous “shortest verse in the Bible” appears in this moment of humanity – “Jesus wept.” Jesus, the Son of God, is troubled and sorrowful in his humanity, even to the point of weeping. The Jews around him recognize the great love that Jesus had for his friend Lazarus, and some even speculated why Jesus had not come sooner to prevent this death of his beloved friend.
But, as we know, Jesus is not done yet. There is a purpose behind his delayed visit. There is a purpose to him coming with all his disciples. There is a purpose behind his grief. This purpose is the Father’s purpose. Jesus is there to do God’s will, and to demonstrate his divine resurrection power as displayed by his human hands.
Jesus tells the Jews to take away the stone from the entrance to the tomb where Lazarus lay. There is some concern over the odor that may be discovered, as Lazarus has been dead for four days. Jesus, undeterred because he knows what is about to happen, still tells them to roll away the stone. He implores them by saying, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So, the people listened, and rolled away the stone from the entrance.
Jesus speaks to his Father in heaven out loud, so that those around him can hear and bear witness, so that their belief has evidence. He spoke: “Lazarus, come out.” And so Lazarus came out, still in his burial wrappings. How fitting that Jesus spoke, and life appeared - it reminds me of the creation narrative in Genesis.
We don’t see what transpires immediately after this. We read that many believed, and many did not. Many came to have faith, and many came to have great suspicion. But, what about Mary and Martha? What were their reactions? What about Jesus? The disciples? Did Jesus wipe his tears on the cloths that bound his dead friend in the grave? Did he embrace his dear friend with joy and praise? What was the conversation like around the dinner table that night? Oftentimes I get caught up in imagining what went on before or after a piece of the narrative – after all, these were real people, not just characters in a book.
What strikes me about this narrative is the picture presented of Jesus Christ, Son of God (as identified by Martha), is so moved in his human spirit that he weeps for the loss of his dear friend. Then, his divine power is displayed in resurrecting Lazarus from the dead. Though Jesus knows that better things are coming, it does not make him immune to human suffering. This is the key to what this entire episode is foreshadowing – the death and resurrection of Christ himself. He is divine enough to display such resurrection power, but human enough to feel the pain and suffering of loss. He is divine enough to have the power to call angels from heaven should he wish to, but human enough to meet the requirements bestowed upon him – the wages of sin is death, and he paid those wages in full on behalf of the entirety of humankind.
What a beautiful, miraculous, mysterious union wrapped up in this very human man who is doubly the very divine Son of God.