Why Does Jesus Weep?

There are two times Jesus weeps: when He entered Jerusalem, and when Lazarus died. Why He cried, however, was very different.

When He came into Jerusalem, He wept because the Jews missed the point. They thought He would deliver them from physical bondage, not spiritual bondage.

When Lazarus died, Jesus wept because those around Him, His children, were weeping. He was sorrowful because they were sorrowful. He was hurt with them. He was brokenhearted with them. He wept with them.

Why does Jesus weep for you? Is it because you are in grief from loss, or because you have missed the point He is trying to make? Are you expecting Him to deliver them from physical bondage, while He is trying to free you from spiritual bondage? Is He broken hearted with you, or because of you?

Weeps with you

Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus, was dead. He’d been sick for days, and had finally died. Jesus had chosen not to come so “God's Son may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)

When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Many had come to comfort Lazarus’ sisters Mary and Martha. Mary, then Martha went out to him.

“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)

Why did Jesus cry? He knew what was about to happen. He knew that in a few minutes Lazarus would be walking around with them. So why was he sorrowful?

Jesus wept because those around Him, His children, were weeping. He was sorrowful because they were sorrowful. He was hurt with them. He was brokenhearted with them. He wept with them.

It is comforting to know that when we are hurt, when we weep, Jesus is also hurt and weeps with is in our pain.

Read all the story in John 11

From That the World May Know: Easter from Force on the Family

Missed the Point

In the first century, rebellion often rose around Passover. The Romans would bring in extra troops to keep everything under control.

Why Passover? It was when the messiah was to come, and the Jews were reminded that they should be free. Imagine the US being conquered by China or Russia or a country where we lost our freedom. Every 4th of July, we would remember that we were suppose to be free. That’s what Passover reminded the Jews.

Jesus comes into the Jerusalem on a donkey, as the messiah. The people are overjoyed! Finally freedom from the Romans! They start waving palm branches. The last time the Jews were free, palm branches were on their coins, so palm branches were a sign of freedom.

"Hosanna! Hosanna!” they shout, which means “Free us! Free us!”
“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Then Jesus did something remarkable; he wept over the city. “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

Jesus was broken hearted because the crowd missed the point. He wasn’t coming to save them from the Romans, but to save them from their sins and damnation.

But they missed the point. They missed the savior and the messiah.

From That the World May Know: Easter from Force on the Family