We see one of the most powerful moments in all the Bible, at least to me, when Jesus wept. Here’s the thing that always gets me about this passage. Jesus was late on purpose. He showed up late to Lazarus’ grave, on purpose so that He could raise Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus would only be dead for a moment. But Jesus, even knowing all this, when confronted with the reality of death, wept. We do not serve a God foreign or distant to our pain, but a God who knows our pain, who feels our pain, who understands our pain. Jesus wept. He knows and honors our hurt. Never forget that. 

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Good morning, everyone. It’s great to be back after spending time at the Salem camp meeting. I always enjoy these gatherings. If you’re not familiar with camp meetings, I like to describe them as similar to the Neshoba County Fair. The difference? Camp meetings focus on Jesus, while the fair doesn’t! People come from all over and stay in what are now wooden structures known as “tents,” although in the old days, they were literal tents. These structures surround the tabernacle, where we hold services. We typically have two services a day, and there’s also a morning Bible study, though I didn’t lead that one as I was the guest evangelist. I’ve preached at most of the Methodist camp meetings across Mississippi and have made many friends there. It’s always a blessing. So, if you’re near a camp meeting, I highly recommend attending. It’s a time of good preaching, fellowship, and food. But now, it’s good to be back with you.

Today, we’re diving back into John, specifically the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Let’s read John 11:17-44 together.

This conversation between Martha and Jesus is profound. Martha already believed in the resurrection at the end of the age, but Jesus was revealing that resurrection and life are found in Him now—not just in the future. He is the resurrection and the life. Through Him, we find new life, not just after death, but even in the present.

That simple verse—“Jesus wept”—is often quoted as the shortest verse in the Bible, but it carries such deep meaning. Even though Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He was still moved by the sorrow around Him. He entered into the grief of Mary and the others. That’s the beauty of our Savior—He doesn’t stand apart from our pain; He walks through it with us.

Here we witness the ultimate demonstration of Jesus’ power over death. Lazarus, having been dead for four days, is brought back to life. Jesus made it clear that this miracle was for the glory of God and to affirm His divine authority, yet what stands out to me is the humanity of Christ in this moment. He knew the end of the story—He knew Lazarus would rise—but He still wept. His heart was broken by the reality of death, by the grief of His friends.

This reminds me of something C.S. Lewis once said: that Lazarus could be considered the first Christian martyr because he was brought back to life, only to die again. He experienced death twice because Jesus brought him back.

But what strikes me most in this story is that Jesus tells the bystanders to unbind Lazarus from his grave clothes. Death had bound him, but Jesus freed him from those bonds. Death no longer had power over Lazarus, and in the same way, Jesus frees us from the power of death. We, too, are unbound from the grave by His grace.

And yet, Jesus wept. Even knowing that death is ultimately defeated, He wept at the tomb of His friend. We, too, will weep when faced with death. I know I did when I lost my mother earlier this year. Even though I know I’ll see her again in heaven, the pain of her absence is still real. But I take comfort in knowing that we serve a God who weeps with us, who understands our sorrow and walks with us through it.

In the face of grief, it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to mourn. And it’s comforting to know that Jesus wept too. He doesn’t dismiss our pain or ask us to rush through it. He sits with us in our sadness, and He promises that, in the end, life will triumph over death.

So today, may we find comfort in knowing that we serve a God who is not distant from our pain. He is with us, and He understands. Jesus wept, and He weeps with us still. But He also promises resurrection and life, both now and forever.

Thank you for being with us today. Tomorrow, we’ll continue with John 11:45. Have a wonderful day!