John 11 tells the unforgettable story of Lazarus, his death, and his miraculous resurrection. It contains the shortest, yet one of the most profound verses in all of Scripture:
“Jesus wept.” (John 11:35)

But why would Jesus weep knowing He would raise Lazarus just moments later?

John 11:4 gives us a key insight:
“When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

From the very beginning, Jesus knew that Lazarus’s sickness was not unto permanent death. It was allowed so that God would be glorified and that the Son of God might be glorified through it. His weeping, then, wasn’t a sign of helplessness. It was a deep expression of compassion in the face of human sorrow, even while holding full authority over life and death.

Lazarus: The Third Resurrection

Lazarus was the third person Jesus raised from the dead. First was the daughter of Jairus (Luke 8), then the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7), and now Lazarus (John 11).

I believe this is symbolic. Just as Lazarus was the third to be raised, so after three days, Jesus would rise — and through His resurrection, we are promised that we, too, will be raised. As Hosea 6:2 says:
“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.”

The raising of Lazarus was a foreshadowing of a greater resurrection to come — one that would bring glory to God and life eternal to all who believe.

Believe and See the Glory of God

When a loved one falls asleep in Christ, grief can feel overwhelming. Yet Jesus said:
“Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40)

Jesus’s tears assure us He understands our grief intimately. His power assures us that death is not the end. His call to believe remains the invitation: to trust Him even in sorrow, knowing resurrection and eternal life are certain for those who believe.

Though many believed in Him after Lazarus’s resurrection, others ran to the Pharisees to plot His death. Even in the face of miraculous proof, some hearts chose unbelief. Yet for those who believe, Jesus’s victory over death shines brighter than ever.

In Loving Memory

This article is written in loving memory of my mother,
Annette Whitcomb
12/23/1945 – 4/17/2025

My book Unconditionally: A New Heart includes a character in Chapter 11 whose journey mirrored my mother’s — hiding her illness from her daughter. Just like the fictional character’s mother, my mother also hid her illness, and after her passing, I realized the full depth of what she had carried quietly. In an even more touching detail, my mother had tucked a gum wrapper into the pages of the book, marking the very scene where this moment of hidden illness was written.

Our home office, where we do much of our work today, is 11′ by 11′ by 11‘ — a quiet reminder of John 11, and the resurrection hope that holds us firm.

When Jesus wept, He showed us He is present in our grief.
When He raised Lazarus, He showed us He is the Resurrection and the Life.
In our mourning, we believe — and we will see the glory of God.

Book: Unconditionally: A New Heart (Chapter 11)

Office Dimensions: 11’x11’x11′