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. (John 11:33-35)
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A few days ago my family went through a very tough time. We had to say goodbye to a beloved member, my uncle. He passed away due to complications after a heart surgery.
At his wake, the sadness was almost tangible. He was a loving person and everyone there was going to miss him very much.
Although most people there believed that one day we would meet him again in a much better place, we knew that we would all miss him until then, mainly his children. Although they are all married with kids, he was part of their everyday life. A part that will always be missed.
In the midst of the sadness, I remembered when Jesus Himself faced a similar situation (check John chapter 11 for the full narrative).
His dear friend Lazarus had died and He arrived at the town a few days afterwards. When he got there, everyone was still deeply saddened by Lazarus’ death.
In John 11:23, He said to Martha: “Your brother will rise again.” So He knew what He was going to do. He knew He would bring Lazarus back, but then He wept just a few moments after.
So why did He weep if He knew He was just about to eliminate the reason for such sadness, if in just a moment Lazarus would be alive again?
I believe the reason He wept is stated in verse 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.
He was moved by the sadness those people were feeling. He felt their sorrow and He wept with them, even tough He knew there was no reason to be sad.
In verses 14 and 15, back when Jesus decided to go to Lazarus’ town, He tells us why he was going to resurrect him:
“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.”
The purpose of the miracle was not to take away their sorrow. It was to make them believe in Him, believe He was the son of God.
Back at my uncle’s wake, I figured that Jesus was weeping with us too. Not because of my uncle’s death, but because He could feel our sorrow and He empathized with it.
Even if He knew that there was no reason to be sad, He would weep with us anyway.
While we are on earth, we have to face times like this. One day there will be no more sadness and no more reason to weep. Until then, Jesus is right there, weeping with us.