The Tears of God

John 11:17-44

Let’s start today with a bit of Bible trivia. Do you know what is the shortest verse in the Bible? I’ll give you a hint: we just heard it. It’s John 11:35 “Jesus wept”. Seminary professors who know Greek much better than I do say that our NRSV translation “Jesus began to weep” is very tame and understated. A better translation they said would be “Jesus burst into tears!” That way of putting it really shows the deep emotion of the original Greek. In John’s Gospel Jesus usually seems kind of superhuman compared to the more human Jesus described in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And yet it is John’s Gospel that includes the fact that Jesus cried at the death of his friend. This short verse recorded in John’s Gospel reveals a very important truth about Jesus, about God, and about the divine promise to be with us in all our grief and suffering.

Now crying is a natural thing to do. It’s healthy to release our emotional pain through the bodily process of mourning and tears and deep sorrowful breathing. Crying is a natural response babies have when something’s wrong or a need isn’t being met. And it’s a healthy coping mechanism for older children and adults to process and release intense emotions. Crying when we experience intense emotion can be a sign of emotional maturity. And crying when we see others in pain is a sign of emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion. Crying too much or never crying at all can also be signs, whether of emotional blockages or the need to engage with suppressed material. Tears are a physical symbol of human pain, of our ability to process pain, and of our ability to connect with others in their pain.

The power of tears is illustrated well in a scene from the movie Good Will Hunting. The main character Will, played by Matt Damon, is a troubled but gifted young man. A Harvard professor recognizes the genius Will is, but after certain things happen he tells Will that if he wants to continue working with him, he needs to go to therapy. Will doesn’t take it seriously at first, but his therapist Sean—played by Robin Williams—gradually earns his trust and respect. Toward the end of the movie, there’s a scene where Will finally has a breakthrough. They’re talking about his abusive childhood and all the trouble he’s gotten into in his life. Then Sean, the therapist (Robin Williams) lovingly tells him “It’s not your fault.” Will says “I know it’s not” and starts to freak out when Sean keeps repeating “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” Over and over he’s confronted with the idea that somewhere inside he did believe it was his fault. Will bursts into tears and his crying represents a major breakthrough moment.

Our own healing may not be as impressive or dramatic as a Hollywood script, but the movie does reveal an important truth. Our tears also tell a story and reveal meaningful truths about us. They symbolize our pain. They carry our stories. They teach us about ourselves and tell anyone we trust enough to let see them important things about us. Whether we’re feeling sad or sentimental, proud of someone we love or so happy we cry, tears really do tell a story.

In the Gospel lesson we read this morning, Jesus’ tears tell a story too. Earlier in the chapter, John tells us that after Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was ill. Upon hearing this, Jesus decided to remain two extra days where he was before going to Lazarus. And when he learns of Lazarus’ death he told his disciples that he’s glad he wasn’t there so that they might see what’s about to happen and believe.

Then comes the verses we read this morning. Jesus arrives and Martha tells him “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then Mary goes out to see him and says the same exact thing: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” And the text tells us that when Jesus saw her crying, and saw the crowd of people crying, that Jesus burst into tears too.

Now let’s pause and consider something. John makes clear that Jesus knew all along that he was going to raise Lazarus. He delayed his arrival so Lazarus would be dead when he got there, obviously knowing that he would raise him back to life. Outside the tomb Jesus specifically says that he knows God hears him and will answer him. He knows the whole time that everything is going to be ok. And yet, Jesus still cried. Even though he knew that Lazarus would be back with them that very same day, still Jesus wept.

He cried when he saw the grief of Martha and Mary. He cried when he saw how much people he loved were hurting. He cried as he fully embraced and honored the pain and grief of his dear friends. He didn’t just show up and solve their problems without taking seriously what they’d been through or how they were feeling. Instead, he truly loved them, he genuinely grieved with them, cried with them, was fully present with them in their suffering and pain. Even though he knew Lazarus would be back in a few short moments, nevertheless Jesus wept.

The fact that Jesus wept speaks volumes. It’s like a picture worth a thousand words. The fact that Jesus wept says something profound about the level of empathy and compassion and love Jesus has, not just for Martha and Mary, but for all of us. And what’s true about Jesus, is true about God. The fact that Jesus wept reveals the level of compassion, empathy, and solidarity that God has with every human being. The pain God feels at our pain. The solidarity God has with every human being who weeps and grieves and suffers.

That fact that Jesus wept demonstrates God’s willingness to enter into suffering with us. The fact that Jesus wept tells us that God takes our suffering and pain, our grief and tears, seriously. Jesus’ tears reveal that God does not just stand off in the distance while this world suffers. Rather, out of deep love for all creation, the Word of God was made flesh, lived among us, and willingly entered into all our grief and pain and brokenness for the sake of our suffering world.

Even though God sees a much bigger picture than we do. Even though God knows that all will be well in the end, just like Jesus knew he was about to raise Lazarus. Even though God knows that we have nothing to truly worry about. Even still, God does not dismiss our pain and suffering. God does not brush aside our the concerns of our hearts. God empathizes with us. God suffers with us. God feels deeply our pain and grief. That’s what Jesus’ tears demonstrate about Jesus and thereby what they demonstrate about God.

Martin Luther emphasized something important reflected in this scene of Jesus weeping. He called it the theology of the cross. It’s the idea that the message of the cross isn’t about God demanding that Jesus suffer and die to appease a wrathful God. The meaning of the cross is not that God inflicts suffering. That’s the opposite of the truth. The true meaning of the cross is that God enters into our suffering. Courageously dives into the heart of the suffering of all humanity. Walks directly into the middle of all our pain and grief and abandonment and sorrow. The meaning of the cross is that God chooses to be with us when we suffer and that God became incarnate to bear the suffering of the world for our sake. The theology of the cross says that God is not the crucifer, God is the crucified. And that every time someone suffers, God is there, fully present in our pain, whether we recognize it or not.

The story of Lazarus doesn’t end with Jesus weeping of course. The passage ends with Jesus calling “Lazarus come out!” And Lazarus comes out, alive again, risen from the dead! In this passage the tears of Christ are followed by the joy of risen life. The sadness of Martha and Mary is followed by the joy they have seeing their brother again. Just like we know that the cross is not the end of Jesus’ story either. Just like the tears shed at Lazarus’ grave are followed by the joy of his rising, so too is the suffering of Jesus on the cross followed by the joy of Resurrection!

Just like Jesus’ tears precede Lazarus’ return, so does the pain and suffering of the cross precede the joy of Resurrection. Assuring us that while suffering is indeed very very real; suffering does not get the last word. The tears of Jesus and Mary and Martha do not get the final word in this passage. The suffering of Good Friday does not get the last word in Jesus’ story. And the suffering and pain and sorrow of our lives does not get the last word either. The final word belongs forever to our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who is the Resurrection and the Life. Amen.

Pastor Brian Rajcok | Sunday, March 22, 2026 | Fifth Sunday in Lent