John 11:33-35
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus' "groaning" here isn't just sadness, but a deep, troubled agitation. It's a powerful response not just to Mary's grief, but to the entire atmosphere of death and its impact, stirring a profound internal struggle within Him. This moment reveals His intense, troubled heart engaging with the devastating reality of loss and sin.
Jesus arrives to find Mary grieving over her brother Lazarus' death, and he's met by a crowd of Jewish mourners also weeping. This scene, filled with genuine sorrow mixed with potentially insincere lamentations, deeply moves Jesus, causing him to react with profound inner turmoil and agitation. He is visibly disturbed by the scene of grief before him, which then prompts him to ask where Lazarus has been laid.
Why would Jesus, the embodiment of love, groan and be troubled? It wasn't just sorrow; it was a powerful, righteous reaction.
The Greek word for 'groaned' here (enebrimēsato) is intense. It's used elsewhere for stern commands or even a powerful snorting, like an agitated horse. While Jesus certainly felt deep sorrow for Mary and the loss of his friend Lazarus, the scholars suggest His agitation here was more than just sadness.
Jesus 'troubled Himself.' What does this mean for His divine nature and human experience?
The phrase 'was troubled' (etaraxen heauton) literally means 'He troubled Himself.' This is a crucial distinction.
Understand the original words
klaiō · Greek Verb
To shed tears, often as an expression of sorrow, grief, or mourning over a loss or a difficult situation.
embrimaomai · Greek Verb
A term used in the Gospel of John to describe an internal reaction of intense emotional agitation, outrage, or visceral indignation, often in the face of death or the effects of sin.
tarassō · Greek Verb
A state of being stirred, agitated, or disturbed in one’s inner self; often used to describe emotional turmoil or distress.
dakryō · Greek Verb
The act of shedding tears, specifically denoting a quiet or silent shedding of tears, reflecting deep personal grief, empathy, or sorrow.
The profound emotional response of Jesus at Lazarus's tomb, described as groaning and being troubled, highlights His deep empathy with human suffering and His personal engagement with the reality of death as a consequence of sin, even as He prepares to conquer it.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry in Judea
Jesus conducted significant ministry in Judea, drawing crowds and opposition. Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Jesus frequently visited.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Lazarus Falls Ill and Dies
Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, falls gravely ill and dies. His sisters, Martha and Mary, are devastated and send for Jesus, who is some distance away.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Arrives in Bethany
Jesus finally arrives in Bethany after Lazarus has been dead for four days. He is met by Martha, and then by Mary, both expressing their grief and faith.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Jesus, deeply moved by the scene of grief and the power of death, calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, demonstrating His divine power over life and death.
When Jesus approached Jerusalem, he looked at the city and wept, deeply moved by its future destruction, showing his profound sorrow over sin's consequences.
Hebrews 4:15This passage highlights Jesus' ability to sympathize with our weaknesses because he was tempted in every way, just as he sympathizes here with Mary's grief.
Romans 12:15This verse directly calls believers to 'mourn with those who mourn,' a principle beautifully and powerfully exemplified by Jesus' own actions here.
John 11:35This verse, 'Jesus wept,' immediately follows the passage in question and is the most direct expression of his sorrow and empathy in this scene.
Genesis 6:6The Old Testament describes God as being 'grieved' or 'heartbroken' when humanity's wickedness was rampant, paralleling Jesus' deep emotional response to the effects of sin and death.
vincentJohn 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"
He groaned in the spirit (ἐνεβριμήσατο τῷ πνεύματι)See on Mark 1:43. The word for groaned occurs three times elsewhere: Matthew 9:30; Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5. In every case it expresses a charge, or remonstrance, accompanied with a feeling of displeasure. On this passage there are two lines of interpretation, both of them assuming the meaning just stat…
pulpitJohn 11:33: "When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,"
Verses 33-44. - (3) The struggle with death. Verse 33. - When Jesus therefore saw her walling, and the Jews wailing who came with her, he was moved with indignation in the spirit, and troubled himself. The sight of the wailing Mary and the wailing Jews, who took up her grief and, according to Oriental custom, adopted her expression of it with loud cries…
Jesus' "groaning" here isn't just sadness, but a deep, troubled agitation. It's a powerful response not just to Mary's grief, but to the entire atmosphere of death and its impact, stirring a profound internal struggle within Him. This moment reveals His intense, troubled heart engaging with the devastating reality of loss and sin.
Jesus arrives to find Mary grieving over her brother Lazarus' death, and he's met by a crowd of Jewish mourners also weeping. This scene, filled with genuine sorrow mixed with potentially insincere lamentations, deeply moves Jesus, causing him to react with profound inner turmoil and agitation. He is visibly disturbed by the scene of grief before him, which then prompts him to ask where Lazarus has been laid.
Jesus arrives to find Mary grieving over her brother Lazarus' death, and he's met by a crowd of Jewish mourners also weeping. This scene, filled with genuine sorrow mixed with potentially insincere lamentations, deeply moves Jesus, causing him to react with profound inner turmoil and agitation. He is visibly disturbed by the scene of grief before him, which then prompts him to ask where Lazarus has been laid.
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c. AD 30-33
Increased Opposition and Plotting
The miracle of raising Lazarus leads many Jews to believe in Jesus, but it also intensifies the opposition from the religious leaders, who see Him as a threat.
AD 33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Following the events in Bethany, Jesus enters Jerusalem for Passover, is arrested, crucified, and resurrected, fulfilling His mission to overcome death.
"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." — Jesus' "groaning" here isn't just sadness, but a deep, troubled agitation. It's a powerful response not just to Mary's grief, but to the entire atmosphere of death and its impact, stirring a profound…
