Chase After God’s Love
Surround yourself with Godly compassion at GCU
Written By
Kate Webber
Surround yourself with Godly compassion at GCU
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Approved and verified accurate by the Local Outreach Ministry Coordinator of Spiritual Life on Nov. 17, 2025.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
Examine the meaning behind Jesus’ tears and understand why it is one of the most powerful points in the Gospel.
“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
Upon seeing Martha and Mary, Jesus sympathizes. It is the first thing He does. “He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Jesus was not immune to the universal, human phenomenon of grief. He had sorrow, pain and sympathy. Jesus wept not just for His friend Lazarus, but wept with Mary and Martha. He felt their emotions, just as you would feel for a friend going through a loss. Jesus wept out of grief for His friend and out of pain for His sisters in Christ.
Though it is not said in the scriptures, the weeping could also suggest Jesus likely was also emotional about His crucifixion, which He knew was soon to come. Jesus was arrested only seven chapters later, in John 18.
When thinking about the emotions of death, grief and the foresight of a brutal death all overwhelming Jesus in this moment, it is easy for us humans to understand why Jesus’ response was to weep at the sight of Lazarus’ tomb.
“Jesus wept” is only two words, easy to glance over and overlook the profound meaning. Jesus’s feeling of grief shows that He is humble, has compassion and has mercy for His people.
How deeply do you truly understand that Jesus was both human and God? John 11:35 emphasizes that Jesus felt the same emotions we do. He was humble enough to express human emotions, even though Himself and His understanding are far higher than those of humans. Jesus was God incarnate, above all things, almighty and all-powerful, and still showed His sadness.
The Lord had compassion for the sisters of Lazarus, as the Lord has compassion for us when we are suffering. “Jesus wept” is how God shows us that He grieves with us when we go through loss. He does not merely sit on His throne in heaven and hear our prayers from a distance. He weeps with us. He understands our pain with a profound sense of empathy.
Jesus knew that He would soon perform the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead after His weeping, but He did not arrive in Bethany filled with joy for what He was about to do. He wept with Mary and Martha. He let them mourn and mourned alongside them, not just understanding their pain but feeling it. Jesus knew there was a time for weeping and a time for rejoicing
The most important aspect of this part of the Bible is often overlooked. Yes, Jesus wept over His close friend. Jesus wept out of compassion for Lazarus’s sisters. But more importantly, Jesus wept over a sinner. While the Pharisees were astounded that Jesus was even associated with sinners in the first place, there He was crying over His close friend: a sinner.
People often have a distorted view of God, misinterpreting scripture and believing that God hates people who disobey him. Truthfully, God opposes sin itself, not sinners. God loves sinners. Jesus cried over the ultimate consequence of sin: death, which He was about to experience Himself in place of us.
Who has hurt more than Jesus, the one who died for those who rejected, slandered and disregarded Him? The enemy does not weep when people suffer. He rejoices. He does this because he is evil, while Christ does the opposite because He is loving. Jesus chose to raise Lazarus from the dead, even though it would cause the attention that would lead to His arrest and death.
Do you blame God when things go south, thinking that He has disregarded you? Meditate on this verse:
Famous for being the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35 consists of just two words that are crucial to the Christian faith.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Mary and Martha were quick to say to Jesus, “If you had intervened, this wouldn’t have happened,” when in reality, they didn’t understand that Jesus had a much bigger purpose in His actions. How much would your life change if you began trusting God’s divine timing, instead of questioning Him when things go off your plan?
When you go through trials or grief, remember that God understands your heart better than anyone, for He created you and knows everything about you. Bear in mind that Jesus chose to feel your sorrow so that you could understand how much He cares for you. In times of brokenness, do not forget to fill your sorrow with His presence, a presence that fulfills what our hearts yearn for.
Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus’s town, four days after his death. Lazarus’s sisters, Mary and Martha, were deeply grieving their brother and both said to Jesus: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21 NIV) The two did not understand why He did not arrive earlier and heal Lazarus in time to spare his life. Jesus heard them, saw their grief, and went to the tomb.
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
Before this, Jesus’ close friend Lazarus had become sick and died. Jesus came to visit the family of Lazarus and cried after the loss of His friend. Many people read over this verse and don’t acknowledge the importance of these two words. This verse shows the compassion and humility of Jesus, pivotal to understanding His character.
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.”
— Psalm 56:8 NLT
