Closer Look - John 11

Christ Was Weeping For The Living; Not The Dead (A Closer Look – #1)

"Jesus Wept" John 11:35

It must break the very heart of Jesus to here so many who profess Him as Lord and Savior, but really have a very weak faith in Him. John 11:40 states: "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" A superficial reading of John 11 leaves the casual observer with the belief that Jesus was weeping for Lazarus.

We know that both Mary and Martha had faith in Jesus. However, during this time of crisis, both of them demonstrated their weak faith. "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died", and "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". Did their faith limit Jesus? If they truly believed that he was the Christ, The Son of God, why did they not consider that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead? Does my weak faith ever limit the power of God?

I can picture Jesus slowly walking among Mary, Martha, and the Jewish leaders of Bethany. So many who claimed to know God, but failed to see the very presence of God! No wonder "he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled."

Yes, Jesus was weeping for the living! There are two reasons why we know this. First, No group on earth ever misread the Lord Jesus like the Jewish leaders. They believed that he was weeping for Lazarus: "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!" Second, and probably the most compelling reason: why would Jesus be weeping for Lazarus, when in a moment, he would be calling him to break death's grip and show forth the Glory of God: "...he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth."

It took seeing for the multitude to believe: "Then many of the Jews...had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him."

Jesus tells us: "I am the resurrection, and the...