When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. [John 11.33]
The whole scene with Lazarus is one we should pay close attention to.
Lazarus had died. Jesus knew Lazarus was going to die. There was a lesson developing...
So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” [John 11.14-15]
Wait... what?
Teaching moment!
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” [John 11.21-22]
Then, Jesus set the stage:
Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” [John 11.23]
From the narrative of John 11, it would seem that perhaps Martha, busy, busy Martha, at least had a firm grasp of, and peace with, eternal life. Jesus drew this out of her:
“Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” [John 11.24]
But it seems there was more that Jesus was trying to draw out of Martha:
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” [John 11.25-26]
Martha had actually said all the right things up to this point, but, had not fully realized the power that was hers (remember what she said in verses 21-22 above). Martha had faith in Jesus' faith to prevent Lazarus from dying but it stopped short there.
“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” [John 11.27]
And then comes Mary. She said the exact same thing Martha said:
When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” [John 11.32]
From the story though, it seems Mary may have been a little more emotional about the death of her brother... And, something about that was problematic for Jesus:
When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. [John 11.33]
Why would Jesus get angry at this point? In spite of the miracle-opportunity that lay ahead, Jesus had to be thinking what the Apostle Paul later wrote to the Church in Thessalonica:
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. [1 Thessalonians 4.13]
Here we must remember that Jesus is God in the flesh. We are privileged to have insight today to understand that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11.6). If faith pleases God, then we should understand that doubt angers God (and this is perfectly consistent with the doubt that is idolatry - that rouses God's jealous anger - Exodus 20.4-6). Doubt in God is the very foundation of idolatry.
Was Jesus, the Son of God, angry because Mary and the others mentioned were weeping and wailing because they had no hope? Or, was Jesus angry because even though they believed Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death, they had no yet realized that He could still raise Lazarus from the dead? Or, was Jesus angry because they just didn't handle the whole situation in Jesus-like fashion themselves? By this time in Jesus' earthly ministry He had already quizzed His followers more than once, "Where's your faith?" It's enough to make a grown man cry! And, that is precisely what Jesus, the Son of Man, did.
Both Jesus' anger and Jesus' tears were for the same reason: doubt among those who should be believing. We see both God's justice and compassion in Jesus Christ!
This article hasn't taken the exact path I first intended (that believers should not be deterred by death), but I am satisfied with the direction is has taken. Jesus' interaction with His disciples, Martha, and then Mary concerning Lazarus' death all points to one thing: unwavering faith. It is faith in God alone Whose power is unlimited in Himself AND in all who believe in Him.
Father, it is my desire to understand the devastating outcome of doubt in my life. It is my desire to grow in undivided faith in You. It is my desire to view death as an enemy only to those who are unbelieving. It is my desire to give up my own way, take up my cross, and follow Jesus. So be it.
