#12 - Jesus Wept - Deeply Moved, Greatly Troubled? (John 11:17-44)

Why did Jesus weep? In this gripping episode, we journey into the heart of John 11:17-44, exploring one of the most emotional and revealing moments in the Gospels. Jesus stands at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, not only sharing in the grief of Mary and Martha but also confronting the devastating reality of sin and death. What does it mean that He was “deeply moved” and “greatly troubled”? How do these emotions reveal His mission as the Messiah?

Join Gabe and Dave as they unpack the profound layers of Jesus’ sorrow, His righteous indignation, and the hope that springs forth from His declaration: “I am the resurrection and the life.” With insights into the cultural context, theological depth, and practical implications, this episode invites you to see the compassionate and victorious heart of Christ.

Whether you're wrestling with grief or seeking to deepen your understanding of who Jesus is, this discussion offers a compelling reminder of the Savior who enters our pain—and ultimately conquers it.

This show is named after Navigate The Way ✝️, a Christian AI assistant for navigating the depths of Scripture and theology with clarity and conviction. This show is named after Navigate The Way ✝️, a Christian AI assistant for navigating the depths of Scripture and theology with clarity and conviction. To check out the tool, visit: https://www.navtheway.com/.

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Transcript

### Gabe Langston:  
G’day everyone! Welcome back to Navigate The Way, where we dive deep into the profound mysteries of Scripture and bring timeless truths to light. I’m your co-host, Gabe Langston, and as always, it’s a pleasure to journey through the Word with you. Today, we’re exploring John chapter 11, verses 17 through 44. This is a stirring passage with Jesus, Lazarus, and two grieving sisters—Mary and Martha. It’s not just about a miracle; it’s a revelation of who Christ is and a look at His heart for humanity. 

Now, before we dive in, if you’re enjoying our discussions, don’t forget to like and subscribe so you won’t miss out on any episodes. Also, we’d love to hear from you—please send us your favorite Scripture passages to consider for future episodes.

Alright, let’s start by reading the passage, then I’ve got a question for you, Dave. 

Reading John chapter 11, verses 17 through 44:

> "Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' She said to him, 'Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.'

> When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, 'The Teacher is here and is calling for you.' And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept. So the Jews said, 'See how he loved him!' But some of them said, 'Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?'

> Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.' When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out.' The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.'"

Alright, Dave—there’s so much in this passage, but let’s start with Jesus’ response to Mary’s grief and the emotions He displayed. John says Jesus was “deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” How would you explain what these terms mean?

### Dave Brooks:  
Thanks for asking, Gabe. I'm Dave Brooks, and it’s great to be diving into this rich text with you. Now, those terms—"deeply moved in his spirit" and "greatly troubled"—have layers of meaning that point us to the profound emotional engagement of Jesus. When we look at the original Greek, we find some surprising nuances. "Deeply moved" is translated from the Greek word embrimaomai, which implies an intense feeling of indignation or even anger, not mere sadness. It’s often used to convey a sense of being stirred or agitated from within. This isn’t a passive sorrow; it’s an active, almost visceral reaction. 

Then we have “greatly troubled,” from the Greek word tarassō, which means to be disturbed or unsettled. These two together indicate that Jesus was not only emotionally moved but that He felt a strong, almost physical response to the reality of death and the grief surrounding it. This passage gives us a window into His humanity and His confrontation with the effects of sin and death. It’s powerful because it shows that our Savior doesn’t stand detached from human suffering—He enters into it.

### Gabe Langston:  
That’s spot on, Dave. I find it fascinating that this moment reveals both anger and sorrow in Jesus. It’s as though He’s confronting, head-on, the devastating impact of sin and death—the very things He came to conquer. The fact that He felt embrimaomai reminds us that He was not only saddened by the scene but was also stirred to righteous anger. It makes me think that He wasn’t just grieving over Lazarus’ death, but over the fallen state of humanity. 

In light of this, would you say that His response here also gives us a deeper understanding of His mission? How do we see His purpose as the Messiah reflected in these emotions?

### Dave Brooks:  
Absolutely, Gabe. His reaction here is like a foretaste of His entire redemptive work. Jesus’ mission was to destroy the works of the devil, including death and all its tragic effects (First John chapter 3 verse 8). In this moment, He’s embodying the response of God’s holiness to human brokenness. We have to remember that in John’s Gospel, every miracle is a “sign” pointing to who Jesus is—the Son of God, the One with authority over life and death. His indignation and sorrow here aren’t merely personal; they are divine responses. 

In fact, Jesus calling Himself “the resurrection and the life” just before raising Lazarus illustrates that He’s not only speaking about a future hope but revealing His present power over death. His words and actions here foreshadow His own death and resurrection, through which He will ultimately triumph over death for all who believe in Him.

### Gabe Langston:  
Brilliant, Dave. And I think it’s especially striking how Jesus’ dialogue with Martha sets the stage for this revelation. Martha is grieving, yet she expresses a remarkable trust—“I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Her faith is genuine, but she’s still thinking in terms of the final resurrection. So when Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He’s challenging her understanding, isn’t He? He’s moving her from a future hope to a present reality, making it clear that resurrection life is found in Him personally, not merely as a distant promise. 

Why do you think John includes Martha’s conversation here? How does it help us grasp the full weight of Jesus’ identity?

### Dave Brooks:  
Martha’s conversation with Jesus is crucial for unfolding the identity of Christ as more than a miracle-worker or teacher. Through this dialogue, John is making it unmistakable that Jesus is the divine Son with authority over life itself. Martha’s initial statement reflects a common Jewish belief in the final resurrection, but Jesus is inviting her to a deeper faith—a faith that sees resurrection not as an event but as a Person standing before her. By declaring, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He’s claiming divine authority over life and death in the present. 

This conversation underscores that Jesus’ identity as the resurrection is both an eschatological promise and an immediate reality. It’s as if He’s asking Martha—and us—to trust not just in what He can do, but in who He is. John sets this up so that when the miracle happens, there’s no doubt that it is a revelation of Jesus’ divine nature.

### Gabe Langston:  
I think that’s such a profound point, Dave. And it’s especially moving because John also portrays Jesus as a compassionate Savior who enters our sorrows. We see this in verse 35—the shortest verse in Scripture: “Jesus wept.” That’s not a trivial detail; it’s a revelation of His empathy. In His humanity, He fully shares in the suffering of His friends. Yet as you said, His divine identity means He can also address the root of that suffering.

How should we understand this display of Jesus’ emotions within the larger framework of His divinity and humanity? Does this show us anything about the nature of God Himself?

### Dave Brooks:  
Yes, Gabe, it’s a profound glimpse into the heart of God. Jesus’ tears are a testament to the fact that God is not aloof from human pain. In the Incarnation, God became man, fully experiencing the depths of human sorrow and loss. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 reminds us that we have a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. This passage in John reinforces that reality by showing that Jesus’ compassion and sorrow are not just abstract—they are deeply personal and genuine. 

At the same time, His divine authority isn’t diminished by these emotions. Rather, they reveal the intensity of God’s love for His creation. The God who is sovereign over life and death is also a God who weeps with those who weep. In a world where suffering often feels isolating, this passage reassures us that God enters into our pain, and through Christ, offers a hope that transcends it.

### Gabe Langston:  
It’s truly comforting, Dave, and I think this scene also carries a powerful apologetic message. People often ask how a loving God can allow suffering and death. But here, we see that Jesus, who is God in the flesh, doesn’t stand back from human suffering—He confronts it, He feels it, and ultimately, He conquers it. The raising of Lazarus isn’t just about a physical miracle; it’s about God’s ultimate answer to death through Jesus. 

For those wrestling with doubt or loss today, this passage offers a unique perspective, doesn’t it? How would you explain this as a source of hope for those facing grief?

### Dave Brooks:  
That’s exactly it, Gabe. The hope here is both immediate and eternal. For anyone facing loss, this account of Jesus raising Lazarus shows that He not only understands our grief but has the power to redeem it. In Lazarus’ case, the resurrection was immediate, but it points to an eternal reality for all believers. The presence of Christ means that our sorrow doesn’t have the final word. Death, which is often seen as the end, becomes a doorway through which God’s glory is revealed and His victory is proclaimed. 

This event, while specific to Lazarus, foreshadows the ultimate resurrection of believers at the end of the age. So, for those grieving today, it assures us that Jesus not only sees and shares in our pain but also has the power to transform it. In Him, there’s an unshakable hope that extends beyond this life.

### Gabe Langston:  
Well said, Dave. And I think we should consider the broader canonical context, as this theme of resurrection runs right through the Scriptures. We see echoes of it in the Old Testament—think of the prophecies in Isaiah or Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones in Ezekiel chapter 37. The idea of God restoring life to what was once dead is a thread woven throughout Scripture, building toward the revelation of Jesus as the resurrection. It’s as though this miracle of raising Lazarus is a fulfillment of God’s promises and foreshadows the ultimate resurrection of Christ Himself.

What would you say about this miracle as it fits into the overall narrative of redemption?

### Dave Brooks:  
Gabe, that’s a great observation. This miracle is indeed woven into the grand narrative of redemption. Lazarus’ resurrection is a “sign” pointing to the ultimate resurrection of Christ, which is the very cornerstone of our faith. In John’s Gospel, these signs are deliberate and purposeful, each revealing an aspect of Jesus’ identity and mission. This particular miracle signifies that the kingdom of God is breaking into a world marked by death and despair. Through Christ, death is swallowed up in victory, as Paul writes in First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 54. 

The raising of Lazarus acts as a preview, a tangible assurance that Jesus’ promise of life isn’t empty. His victory over death is central to the Gospel—it assures us that we, too, will share in this resurrection. So, in the broader redemptive arc, this passage not only offers personal comfort but stands as a declaration that Christ has overcome the greatest enemy of all: death itself.

### Gabe Langston:  
And the way Jesus performs the miracle is intentional, too. Notice His prayer in verse 41—He prays aloud, not because He doubts the Father’s response, but “for the sake of the people standing around, that they may believe.” His actions are designed to inspire faith, both in that immediate moment and for future readers of John’s Gospel. This moment is about God revealing His glory, which ties back to what He told the disciples earlier, that this sickness would not end in death but would display the glory of God.

I’m curious, Dave, what do you make of the role faith plays here, especially in light of Jesus’ statement to Martha about believing and seeing God’s glory?

### Dave Brooks:  
Faith is at the heart of this passage. Jesus’ statement to Martha—“Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”—is a call to trust in His divine power even in the face of death. The miracle isn’t just about Lazarus coming back to life; it’s about revealing the nature of God’s glory, which shines brightest in situations that seem hopeless. Belief is central to experiencing this glory. Jesus is inviting Martha—and by extension, all of us—to move beyond intellectual assent and into a faith that expects God’s intervention even in the darkest moments.

In John’s Gospel, belief and seeing God’s glory are intertwined. When we trust in Christ, we are given eyes to see His hand at work, even amid suffering. So, faith here is both the means of seeing God’s glory and the response to it.

### Gabe Langston:  
Faith, then, becomes both the invitation and the response. And this passage has so many layers, doesn’t it? From the historical-cultural aspects of Jewish mourning practices to the theological depths of resurrection life, each piece adds dimension. I think one final angle to consider is the pastoral care context—how this story can inform how we minister to others. It shows that grief and faith aren’t mutually exclusive. Jesus doesn’t chastise Mary or Martha for grieving; instead, He joins them in it, and then He reveals His power.

What insights do you think this passage gives us for walking alongside others in their grief?

### Dave Brooks:  
This story beautifully models compassionate presence. Jesus doesn’t rush Mary and Martha to “move on” or “trust more” without acknowledging their pain. He weeps with them before He performs the miracle. It reminds us that pastoral care isn’t about fixing pain immediately; it’s about entering into it, bearing witness to it, and gently pointing people to the hope of Christ. This doesn’t deny the pain but instead offers a hope that sits alongside it. 

For pastors, caregivers, and even friends walking alongside those who suffer, this passage encourages us to reflect Christ’s empathy. We mourn with those who mourn, even as we hold to the hope of resurrection. Jesus shows us that it’s possible to have both deep compassion and unwavering faith in God’s promises.

### Gabe Langston:  
That’s such an important reminder, Dave. Well, as we close, I want to invite everyone listening to take this hope into their own lives, to remember that Christ meets us in our pain and promises life beyond it. I hope this episode has stirred your heart as much as it has ours. Don’t forget to like and subscribe if you haven’t already, and feel free to submit any passages you’d like us to cover in future episodes. 

This show is named after Navigate The Way ✝️, a Christian AI assistant for navigating the depths of Scripture and theology with clarity and conviction. The personas for both Dave and I, as well as the content of this episode, were all AI-generated using Navigate The Way ✝️. A special thanks to ElevenLabs for our AI-generated voices.