The Reason Jesus Wept

This morning, I'm meditating on a familiar passage in John 11:17-44. The raising of Lazarus was one of the most spectacular signs Jesus did prior to his death and resurrection. As I slowly look over what Jesus accomplished, one of my primary questions has to do his emotional state. What was going on that made Jesus weep in this story? John doesn't tell us exactly why Jesus wept, but merely gives the context. We know from Isaiah, Jesus was a man of constant sorrows. (Is. 53:3). But I believe this is the only time a Gospel writer specifically mentions Jesus' weeping.

A couple of thoughts come to mind as I chew on this story:

First, Jesus was not crying because he missed his friend Lazarus. He told the disciples before they left for Bethany, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep but I go to awaken him." Jesus was aware Lazarus had passed away, but understood it to be good in order to manifest the glory of God.

Secondly, God's glory does not hinge on the people's knowledge and understanding of it. God's glory exists regardless of the acceptance or rejection by people. Therefore, when Jesus' did things for the sake of God's glory, he was demonstrating glory that existed from before time began. God's glory has not grown or developed through time. He has the same glory now as he had when their was nothing.

Also, when Jesus' came for the sake of God's glory, he came to reveal existent glory. Jesus never needed to win God glory or honor. From the earliest civilizations, men have done things to win themselves glory and honor. Their glory didn't exist until they proved it. Not so with Almighty God. His glory is eternally His, regardless of whether He demonstrates it or not. The Word of God gives us several different flavors of God's glory, but it is limited. There are things about God that we won't know until heaven, but they remain true.

Which leads me to why I think Jesus' wept. He wept because he saw the desperate ignorance in the people around him. Mary, Martha, and the other mourners were drawn away from the glory of God present with them. God's glory, manifested in Jesus, was with them, yet they were blind to it. I believe Jesus wept because he realized some of his closest followers didn't know him. He looked around and observed so many who knew so little about their Creator. Perhaps, Jesus would have preferred Mary, Martha, and the disciples to have known he was able to raise Lazarus before he did it. Maybe Jesus wept because he looked around and saw that everyone would be shocked and surprised about what he was about to do. It seems that to Jesus, ignorance was not bliss.