Question description

In the story "the death of Lazarus" - John 11 vs. 1 - end, it was recorded in verse 35 that "Jesus wept". I've thought about the action of the Lord and how significant it was to be recorded in a single verse with no additional wordings. After much reasoning, I still could not come up with any satisfying hypotheses as to why Jesus Christ wept.

The chapter did not enunciate why Jesus Christ wept, but I was wondering, so far, He knew that He was going to wake Lazarus why did he cry? Could it be because of Martha's lack of knowledge about the power Jesus has? Or because Lazarus was His friend?

Thank you.

Answer description

Jesus knew that He would call Lazarus back to life but still He wept. I have thought of two things that might be in Jesus' mind - when He wept -

1. Jesus loved Lazarus as a good close friend. He was sad as the curse of sin had fallen on his friend now. How sin has separated mankind from God.
2. Jesus foresaw that He would be taking the place of not only Lazarus but also all of humankind. He would be the sacrificial lamb that takes the sin of the world.

He would suffer in the hands of sinners and then crucify on the cross and by His death, He would appease God's righteous anger and reconcile us to God. Yet on the cross, He would bear all the sins of the world and become the curse to appease God's judgment.

Romans 3:23; Romans 5:9-11

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