Summary: In the story of Jesus raising Lazarus, the commonly quoted verse “Jesus wept” reflects more than compassion; it shows Jesus’ deep anger at death itself. The original Greek suggests that Jesus was “perturbed and troubled” in a way similar to an angry horse, highlighting His fury against the power of death. This interpretation emphasizes that God desires life for humanity and sees death as an unnatural force to be defeated.
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (3:16) Death is an abomination to God, and consequently to Jesus. (View Highlight)
By snorting like an angry horse, Jesus assures us that life is God’s default position for humanity, that death is unnatural, and that death does not have the last word. (View Highlight)
he’s angered to the very depths of his soul (“in his spirit”), so much so that he snorts and rears like an enraged stallion, and in his fury weeps.
The passage about Lazarus’ raising from the dead has the shortest verse in the Bible - “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). I remember it as a Sunday school quiz question.
This is an eye-opening interpretation by Fr. Walters - Jesus is angered to the very depths of his soul (“in his spirit”), so much so that he snorts and rears like an enraged stallion, and in his fury weeps.
He is angry at death. God hates death. Death is an unnatural force to be defeated? Or it may also be that people should not be so saddened at someone’s death. Jesus is moved by Mary’s sadness. He is moved because of death’s hold on people.