Why Did Jesus Weep?

by Admin · July 29, 2025

The Raising of Lazarus by Simon de Vos

Question: The shortest sentence in the bible, “Jesus Wept.” -John 11:35, shows, I think, how much Christ loved Lazarus and all of humanity. But reflecting further on that passage, I’m just wondering why Jesus wept. Do you think it was because Jesus was grieving over the death of his friend? Or do you think that he wept tears of joy, knowing that Lazarus was not suffering anymore, and in heaven?

Answer: That short and simple verse from the Gospel reflects a complex truth, a truth that prompts your excellent question and makes the answer difficult. Jesus had two natures: He was truly human and truly divine, and both natures were at work in the matter of Lazarus.

Pope Leo the Great, reflecting on this same passage, is thought to have said: “In his humanity Jesus wept for Lazarus; in his divinity he raised him from the dead.” Jesus felt deeply the pain of Lazarus’ death. When Martha and Mary sent word to Jesus of the impending crisis, their message had been, “Master, the one you love is ill.”

Clearly, Jesus knew in advance what he was going to do, for he told them, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God.” But his awareness of that eventual outcome did not relieve Christ’s human sorrow, and this is the mystery of his dual nature. And so, the answer to both of our letter writers’ questions is “Yes.”

Jesus was truly grieving over Lazarus’ passing and the pain it was causing Martha and Mary, but just as surely, he knew that the situation would serve ultimately to glorify God.

The mystery of that duality will only lift fully when we, one day, rest in God’s house; but meanwhile it may help to think that, right now, we ourselves struggle to balance those twin feelings. When someone we love dies, our faith promises the joy of reunion; yet, even so, we feel deeply the sting of loss. We believe in eternal life, but that doesn’t stop our tears.

By Father Kenneth Doyle, CNS