John 11

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

What does John 11:35 mean?

Explanation

The verse "Jesus wept." from John 11:35 is known for being the shortest verse in the King James Version of the Bible. Despite its brevity, it conveys a profound depth of emotion.

The verse describes Jesus’ reaction upon reaching the tomb of Lazarus, who was a dear friend to Him, and observing the grief of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, along with the mourners present.

This verse captures the humanity of Jesus, showing that He experienced and expressed sorrow, thus identifying with the human experience of loss and grief.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated in the passage that describes the death and raising of Lazarus, found in the Gospel of John, chapter 11.

During the time of Jesus, it was customary for Jews to mourn the loss of a loved one with loud wailing and weeping.

The scene takes place in Bethany, a town near Jerusalem, where Jesus arrives four days after Lazarus has died.

The delay is significant, as it was believed that the soul remained near the body for three days but by the fourth day would be gone, foreclosing hopes of resuscitation.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways.

Some see it as evidence of Jesus' full humanity, reinforcing the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation, that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. Others view Jesus' weeping as a demonstration of His compassion and empathy for His creation.

The verse also serves to illustrate that grief is a natural response to loss, which is not to be shunned or considered a lack of faith. It challenges any notion that divine strength is devoid of emotion.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, "Jesus wept." has been used to offer consolation to those who mourn by affirming that sorrow and tears are a natural and appropriate response to loss.

It encourages people to express their emotional pain and find solace in the fact that Jesus Himself experienced and expressed such emotions.

Additionally, it can be cited to support the importance of showing empathy and compassion towards others who are suffering.

Cross-References

John 11:33-36: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept."

Luke 19:41: "And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,"
Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Language Study

The original Greek word used in John 11:35 is "ἐδάκρυσεν" (edakrusen), which translates to "wept" in English.

It is the aorist active indicative form of the verb δακρύω (dakruó), which means to shed tears or weep and signifies an action completed in the past. The use of this word suggests the deep emotional pain Jesus felt as He wept, showing not just a passing upset but a significant depth of sorrow.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing this verse with other ancient texts and religions, tears shed by deities are not uncommon.

For example, in Ancient Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite weeps over the dead body of Adonis.

Such expressions of divine sorrow alongside human characters are elements used to create relatability between mortals and the divine realm.

However, in the context of monotheistic religions, Jesus' weeping stands out as it connects deeply to the Christian understanding of a personal and empathetic God.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, the act of weeping is associated with various psychological and physiological responses to emotions. Research has shown that crying can have therapeutic effects, as it is a natural response to sorrow that can help alleviate stress and prompt community support.

Thus, this verse might correlate with the human need for expressive and communal coping mechanisms in times of grief.

Commentaries

Different scholars and theologians have honed in on various aspects of this verse.

Some, like Matthew Henry, emphasize the compassion and the sympathetic nature of Christ.

In contemporary scholarship, perspectives range from analyzing the structure of the gospel narratives to exploring the emotional life of Jesus.

Raymond E.

Brown's commentary on the Gospel of John, for instance, delves into the significance of Jesus' emotions in the context of His larger mission and the foreshadowing of His own death.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 11:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?