Why Did Jesus Weep, Even Though He Is God?

by Magdalena Kessy | 18 December 2021 08:46 pm12

Many people ask: If Jesus is truly God, why did He weep at Lazarus’ tomb?

Let’s first look carefully at the event as recorded in the Bible.

John 11:32–37 (NKJV):

32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”
37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

1. Jesus Did Not Weep Because of Lazarus’ Death

At first glance, it might seem Jesus was mourning Lazarus. However, Jesus knew He would soon raise Lazarus back to life (John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life…”).

Thus, His weeping was not driven by helpless grief like the others, but out of compassion for human sorrow and frustration at their unbelief.
Jesus wept because of the deep spiritual blindness and the pain that sin and death had caused humanity.

Theologically: Jesus’ tears reveal His full humanity (Hebrews 4:15) — He fully entered into human suffering — and at the same time, His divinity, as He prepared to conquer death itself.

2. Jesus Was Grieved by Their Unbelief

Though they had witnessed His miracles, many still doubted that Jesus had power even over death. Their despair reflected a failure to believe in His true identity as the Son of God.

John 11:40 (NKJV):

Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Faith was (and still is) key to experiencing the glory of God.
Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

3. Jesus’ Deep Emotions Show God’s Heart Toward Human Suffering

Again in John 11:38 (NKJV):

Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

This phrase “groaning in Himself” (Greek: embrimaomai) suggests a strong inward agitation, possibly anger against the tyranny of death and unbelief.

Jesus stands not as a distant deity but as Emmanuel — “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), who deeply feels our pain.

4. Jesus Was Also Sorrowed by Hard-Heartedness Before

This was not the first time Jesus was grieved by human stubbornness:

Mark 3:5 (NKJV):

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Jesus’ emotional responses reveal God’s holy sorrow over humanity’s persistent rejection of His truth.

5. Even Today, Jesus Is Grieved by Unbelief

Today, whenever we doubt God’s promises, or when we trust more in what we see than in what He says, we continue to grieve His heart.
Faith is not optional — it is essential.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV):

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The Call:
Let us live lives of unwavering faith, pleasing the heart of God, trusting completely in His power, even when situations seem hopeless.

Conclusion: Jesus’ Tears Were Tears of Love and Truth

Jesus wept not because of despair, but because of His compassion for humanity,
His sorrow at their unbelief,
And His deep hatred of sin and death — enemies He came to destroy.

Maranatha! (The Lord is coming!)

Please share these good news with others!

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Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2021/12/18/why-did-jesus-weep-even-though-he-is-god/