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NASB | John 11:35 Jesus wept. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 11:35 Jesus wept. |
Subject: Jesus weeping |
Bible Note: 2 verses prior to "Jesus wept" we read that he groaned in the spirit and was deepy troubled. The word translated "groaned" is "embrimaomai" I trust my brother Doc will correct me if I am wrong, but I believe this type of groaning is commonly associated with annoyance and irritation. The same word is used of the apostles ( I believe it was Judas, actually)in Mark 14 when they "murmered" against the woman who anointed Jesus with a jar of spykenard. So it would appear that Jesus is frustrated and annoyed and ready to grumble against someone or something. What comes to mind is the distinct lack of faith around him. Some of the people gathered knew Jesus very well and clearly knew his ability to heal and even to raise the dead (I will include a footnote of interest re: this issue) and yet they still mourned for lazarus and complained against Jesus for not coming sooner. Such lack of faith from Jesus's own nearest and dearest? despite him having sent message to them not to be concerned? Jesus had little reason to weep for Lazarus, he'd be up and walking very shortly and Jesus had known this even four days previously. Jesus wept in reaction to the weeping and mourning of others. Could he not have weeped for his dead friend of his own volition? why would he have to see others weeping first before realising that perhaps he ought to weep too? Their weeping was because they believed that now "not even Jesus" could or would raise Lazarus, a sign of faithlessness and it was this for which Jesus was angered and it was for this that Jesus wept. Lack of faith was something that seemed to trouble Jesus deeply; when the apostles failed to cast out a demon he said to them "faithless and perverse generation, how long must I contend with you!" Now, after Jesus begins to weep, the others point to him, thinking he weeps for Lazarus and they declare "behold how he loved him!Could this man not have raised him from the dead!" We read that this caused Jesus once again to "embrimaomai" (groan in anger) Why? because once again they proclaim their lack of faith "he COULD have raised Lazarus"....but apparently could not now raise him, if we were to believe these onlookers. Footnote: But WHY? why did they believe Jesus could raise the dead, but yet not Lazarus and not this day? The Scribes and Pharisees taught certain "superstitions" concerning Messiah. Though these were not perhaps true prophetic teachings of God...Jesus nevertheless fulfilled all of them, quite possibly to spite the doubts of the pharisees and prove that even by their own false understanding they could not refute that hee is trully messiah. This event at Lazarus tomb, fulfils the superstition that when a person dies, their spirit hovers near the body for three days, perhaps not fully aware of what has happened to them. The Pharisees would teach that a prophet could raise a dead person during these 3 days, but not after, because the spirit would have been taken away from the Body, by God, after these three days and therefore no-one, could bring them back......except for messiah. This is key to understanding why it was that Jesus remained where he was a further 2 days after hearing of Lazarus's mortal illness. In delaying his arrival at the tomb by 2 days, he had ensured that at least 3 days had passed since Lazarus's death. 3 days had come and gone, the chance to raise Lazarus was over, he was dead and unretrievable and this is why the people mourned and moaned at Jesus for "being late" By raising Lazaurus even after the 3rd day had passed, Jesus demonstrated to those who understood the pharisaic teachings about messiah, that he is indeed messiah. |