JOHN 11:28–37
He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.… Jesus wept
(John 11:33, 35).
It is fascinating that in a book which emphasizes the divinity of Christ, we find one of the most poignant expressions of Jesus’ human nature. The three verbs used here are like windows into Jesus’ soul: He “groaned in spirit,” “was troubled,” and “wept.”
When Jesus saw Mary and the Jews weeping, He was “deeply moved in the spirit.” The verb connotes anger or “to charge sternly.” But it also involves feeling the pain of others. Jesus was filled with a kind of indignation that aroused His sympathy. What, then, caused this indignation? Most scholars would agree that it was sin—the root cause of Lazarus’ death. When Jesus saw the tears on Mary’s face, His anger rose up against sin. Any Christian can identify to some extent with this emotion. When tragedy strikes, you know that sin is at the root, and you hate it. At the same time, you hurt for those who suffer.
Next, we read that Jesus was troubled. This is the same verb used in 14:1 where Jesus tells His disciples not to be troubled in spirit. The verb denotes agitation, confusion, and perplexity. In the 14:1 passage, the disciples were filled with a jumble of emotions at the prospect of Christ’s departure. Likewise, Jesus was filled with an array of emotions as He watched Mary weep. He felt anger, sorrow, sympathy, and grief. All of these emotions tossed and turned in His heart like waves on troubled waters. This agitation was not at odds with His divine nature. In this highly emotional state, Jesus did not sin. Obviously, emotions are legitimate as long as they do not lead to sin, i.e. anger at sin is legitimate, but it should never cause us to be angry at God, which is sinful.
Lastly, Jesus wept. This is the only place in the New Testament where this verb occurs. When Mary and the others are described as weeping, the verb is actually “wailing.” The verb used in reference to Christ focuses on His tears of genuine sympathy. It highlights His love for others as well as His own grief. His weeping here can be compared to that noun in Hebrews 5:7 where the High Priest (Christ) offers up prayers and supplications with tears. When Christ wept, it was a selfless, holy act, indicative of our High Priest who sympathizes with our weakness and our grief.
CORAM DEO
Job 35–37
Acts 14
Read Hebrews 4:14–16. Grief, sorrow, righteous indignation, perplexity of spirit are all legitimate feelings and emotions. Does it comfort you to know that Christ can sympathize with you in all circumstances? Pray to Christ today, asking Him to help you feel emotions such as grief and anger, but to do so without sin.
For further study: Isa. 53:3–5 • 2 Cor. 5:21 • Heb. 7:20–28
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