March 12, 2026 | Be Connected
Why Did Jesus Weep?
Scripture: John 11:17-44(NIV)
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Devotional
Today’s scripture focuses on death and life. Jesus proclaims, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life” and then demonstrates the power of God by raising three-day dead Lazarus from the tomb. Life after death is amazing, but also included in the text is the shortest scripture in the Bible. John 11:35 states “Jesus wept.” This bids me to ask, “Why did Jesus weep?”
Why did Jesus weep?
Was Jesus shocked that Lazarus died? NO! Jesus said to the disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” (11:4)
Why did Jesus weep?
Did Jesus regret being late to Lazarus’ burial? NO! “When Jesus heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where He was two more days.” (11:6)
Why did Jesus weep?
Was Jesus limited in power when it came to death? NO! “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” (11:14-15)
Why did Jesus weep?
Did Martha guilt Jesus by saying, “If you had been here my brother would not have died”? NO! Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.” (11:23)
Why did Jesus weep?
Jesus was sent to earth by God with the mission of the cross. He taught, engaged in our lives, felt human emotions and spoke truth, but suffering was the road ahead. He realized His death would be severe for those whom He loved. He understood death comes with loss, regret, pain, mourning, questions, and fear of eternal darkness. Jesus wept.
He watched the mourning of Lazarus’ friends with full knowledge they would mourn again at the foot of the cross watching Him suffer and die. It causes me to weep with this truthful message of salvation: Jesus lived a sinless, spotless life yet bore each of our sins on the cross. Lazarus’ death platforms the famous I AM saying we process before our death. Jesus says, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (11:25-26).
Truth is revealed as Jesus looks up to heaven with tears in His eyes and proclaims, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me... I said this for the benefit of the people standing here that they may believe that You sent Me” (11:41-42). YES! Of course, Jesus wept! But from His sacrifice of love, we as believers reap, not weep. Our dead-sin clothes are removed, and we are set free with God’s gift of eternal Life.
