Two words. The shortest verse in the Bible: John 11:35—“Jesus wept.” Jesus’ friend, Lazarus was dead. Both of Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary had voiced the same words to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary had fallen to His feet and lay there weeping. “When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied.”
“Jesus wept.” “Then the Jews said, See how he loves him!”
The Bible notes three times in which Jesus wept: As Mary and the Jews wept because of Lazarus’ death; For the Holy city Jerusalem; and at the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Three times we witnessed through the word the agony and grief consuming Jesus’ heart.
“Jesus wept.” “Then the Jews said, See how he loves him!”
The Bible notes three times in which Jesus wept: As Mary and the Jews wept because of Lazarus’ death; For the Holy city Jerusalem; and at the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Three times we witnessed through the word the agony and grief consuming Jesus’ heart.
To cry—to weep—to sob; are they the same thing? For me, personally, they are different. All involve tears, obviously: But to what degree? We cry for many reasons. We may be sad or angry, frustrated or physically injured. Children may cry because they didn’t get what they wanted, these tears are associated with temper tantrums. I may feel like crying while going through times of unending trials. Yes, we cry for many reasons.
Weeping, however, (in my opinion) erupts from deep within our hearts. We also weep for many reasons: intense grief; loss; betrayal and agony. Weeping hurts. It tears at our hearts and souls, right down to our guts.
Sobbing, in my opinion, and experience, may be a combination of the other two. Hurt, anger, frustration or a physical injury or illness, which continues for too long, can cut to the deepest part of our hearts, right down to our guts. When this happens we sob. Sobbing to me is physical. When I sob my body shakes, I gasp for breath, I may even pound on the bed. Sobbing involves my entire body. It is exhausting.
Weeping, however, (in my opinion) erupts from deep within our hearts. We also weep for many reasons: intense grief; loss; betrayal and agony. Weeping hurts. It tears at our hearts and souls, right down to our guts.
Sobbing, in my opinion, and experience, may be a combination of the other two. Hurt, anger, frustration or a physical injury or illness, which continues for too long, can cut to the deepest part of our hearts, right down to our guts. When this happens we sob. Sobbing to me is physical. When I sob my body shakes, I gasp for breath, I may even pound on the bed. Sobbing involves my entire body. It is exhausting.
John 11:35, says, “Jesus wept.” These were tears of anguish, of sorrow. Did Jesus weep because his friend, Lazarus was dead? No. Jesus knew exactly why Lazarus was allowed to die. Jesus knew that in a very short time his friend would be resurrected from the dead. Lazarus would walk out of the tomb, which had held his dead body for four days so that people would believe and God’s Son would be glorified.
Then why did He weep?
I believe Jesus openly wept for all to see because of the all-consuming love He has for us. He felt the sorrow of those around him, and this sorrow grasped his heart and his spirit.
“He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”
“Jesus wept.” Two moving, gut wrenching words.
Then why did He weep?
I believe Jesus openly wept for all to see because of the all-consuming love He has for us. He felt the sorrow of those around him, and this sorrow grasped his heart and his spirit.
“He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”
“Jesus wept.” Two moving, gut wrenching words.
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