John 11:35-36, 38 (RSV), “Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’…Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb…"
The scriptures explain why Jesus cried; it was because Jesus was personally feeling the great loss of His dear friend. He had loved Lazarus.
By the time Lazarus died, Jesus had had a lot of exposure to death and sickness. He was “able to deal gently with” the people because he loved people and felt grief with them. (Hebrews 5:2) Several scriptures record Jesus’ feelings of compassion. “Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick,” Matthew 14:14. Another time, when Jesus “saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 (NIV).
Jesus knew that death is the true enemy of man. He had come to give his life to cancel the death sentence on mankind. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, “For He (Jesus) must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”
When Jesus resurrected Lazarus, he was foreshadowing the resurrection of all humanity. (See John 5:28, 29) Jesus now has all power in heaven and earth and will soon begin this mighty work. And just as all rejoiced when Lazarus came out of the tomb, so all will rejoice when they are reunited with their loved ones during Christ’s reign. “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
