Jesus Wept

In the King James Version we find the shortest verse in the Bible:

John 11:35 "Jesus wept."

There is no exclamation point to "make a point" or to add emotion to a statement of fact. From that short sentence cries for all the world to hear, the humanity of Christ. He feels our pain!  That's why God came down to take on flesh! The same flesh which we have. He was tempted as we are, he hurt as we do and he died for us.

The "Agony in the Garden" is the time recorded in scripture from the last supper until Jesus was arrested. Jesus said:

Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Jesus is not referring to the apostles, he's referring to himself! He had just asked God to "take this cup", which is his body, and found the apostles sleeping. While he was agonizing over death and what he was about to face, his followers were sleeping as at any other time. Indeed, he felt so alone! The Spirit of Jesus was willing to die for mankind, but his body (mind) dreaded dying! Jesus loved everyone, loved the faith of those who believed and mankind had become his family. Yes, Jesus was about to leave his family and something inside him made him not want to go!

Luke 22:44 "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."

Agony is the struggle which precedes death. We all, including Jesus, fight to remain in this world. We all dread death. Jesus did too! He cried out to his Father on the Cross "Why did you abandon me?" Inside the dying person is intense emotion.  It's both an intense mental pain (anguish) and physical hurt.   The 39 lashes Jesus was soon to receive paled in comparison to his agony in the garden! He hurt because there was a battle going on! Jesus knew he must die, but yet he desired to live; just as we all do! In order to die for us Jesus had to have the same feelings and pains that we have. Whereas, our pain is for us, Jesus' pain was for all mankind! He died because he loved us so:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

This is just as easily said "For God so loved everyone of us that he gave his own Flesh, that whosoever believeth that God shed his own blood for all, should not perish, but have everlasting life!"

What's the key word? God so LOVED...

John 11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Jesus loved Lazurus, his friend, who had died and began to decay. "Jesus wept." Yes, Jesus cried! He cried, not because Lazurus died, but because Mary the sister was weeping. Jesus hurt for her! He felt her pain!  Jesus does not want us to hurt and he groaned for her. He groans for us! When a person loses a loved one the loss is great! Mary loved Lazurus. Jesus crying in empathy with Mary is a picture of his crying for all mankind!

Here we have the people who are weeping for the dead; the loved one lost. Jesus' cries for those who are lost as well. However, his burden is not for their flesh, but for their eternal life! Jesus cries because, unlike Lazurus, he knows that most will reject him and his vicarious death for their sins! He cries for those who are lost too! However, Jesus defeats death. Lazurus' stinking decaying body was not even a challenge for him! Death is a servant to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Just as Jesus defeated death for Lazurus, that's just a foretaste of what he did for mankind!  However, Mary hadn't yet great faith!

John 11:32 "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."

Was Jesus crying because of her pain or because of her doubt? Maybe both! He hurt for her pain, but yet she was a shadow of mankind's lack of faith.  Jesus had feelings for her loss, but pain for her doubt as well. Whereas, Mary came to Jesus, even after Lazurus was dead, to tell him she had faith that he could save those from perishing, she had yet to belief that Jesus had victory even over death!

Short and sweet! The shortest verse in the KJV of the Bible! "Jesus wept." It says so much about Jesus that an entire book could be written. In fact it has been already. Have you read it? It's called the Bible. Read it and see why Jesus weeps!