Sermons on John 11:35

John 11:35 Interpretation:

Faith and Timing: Embracing God's Presence in Pain (Access Church) interprets John 11:35 by emphasizing the dual nature of Jesus as both fully God and fully man. The sermon highlights that Jesus wept despite knowing the outcome of Lazarus's resurrection, showcasing His empathy and deep emotional connection with humanity. This interpretation suggests that Jesus's tears were not just a display of human emotion but a profound expression of divine empathy, fulfilling the prophecy of a suffering Messiah who is familiar with pain.

The Healing Power of Tears and Christ's Empathy (RevivalTab) interprets John 11:35 by emphasizing the emotional depth of Jesus' humanity. The sermon highlights the Greek word "kaleo," which means deep sobs and wailing, to describe Mary's weeping and how it moved Jesus to tears. This interpretation suggests that Jesus' tears were a spontaneous expression of love and empathy, showing that He is deeply touched by human sorrow and brokenness. The sermon uses the analogy of a female doctor who can empathize with a laboring mother to illustrate Jesus' ability to understand and feel our pain.

Finding Hope and Growth in Grief and Loss (Kingsford Church of Christ) interprets John 11:35 by focusing on the importance of acknowledging and processing grief. The sermon suggests that Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' grave demonstrates the necessity of facing our pain and loss rather than avoiding it. The speaker shares personal experiences and emphasizes the value of turning toward pain as a path to transformation, using the metaphor of heading east into darkness to eventually reach the sunrise.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) interprets John 11:35 by emphasizing Jesus' humanity and his ability to empathize with human grief and sorrow. The sermon highlights that Jesus' weeping is a profound display of his compassion and connection to human suffering. The preacher uses the analogy of Jesus as a parent watching their child in pain, illustrating that Jesus is deeply moved by our suffering and is present with us in our grief. This interpretation underscores the importance of acknowledging and expressing grief as a natural and necessary part of the human experience.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) interprets John 11:35 as a profound expression of Jesus' empathy and shared human experience. The sermon suggests that Jesus wept not only because of his friendship with Lazarus but also because he understood the larger divine plan that was unfolding. This interpretation emphasizes that Jesus' tears were a response to the immediate human suffering and the broader, eternal perspective he held. The sermon uses this to illustrate that Jesus is with us in our suffering, sharing our emotions and understanding the bigger picture that we might not see.

John 11:35 Theological Themes:

Embracing Sadness: God's Love in Our Emotions (App Wesley Media) presents the theme that God is not a stoic deity but one who deeply empathizes with human emotions. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus's weeping demonstrates God's vulnerability and willingness to share in human suffering, contrasting with other religious views that depict gods as emotionless. This theme underscores the idea that God's empathy is a testament to His love and desire for a personal relationship with humanity.

Faith and Timing: Embracing God's Presence in Pain (Access Church) introduces the theme of radical faith, suggesting that Jesus's weeping is a call for believers to embrace a faith that sees beyond the natural into the supernatural. The sermon encourages believers to adopt a perspective that acknowledges God's timing and purposes, even when they are not immediately apparent.

The Healing Power of Tears and Christ's Empathy (RevivalTab) presents the theme that tears are a divine gift and a form of communication with God. The sermon suggests that tears have a language of their own and can move the heart of God, emphasizing that Jesus' weeping shows His deep empathy and connection with human suffering.

Finding Hope and Growth in Grief and Loss (Kingsford Church of Christ) introduces the theme of limits and the necessity of embracing them as part of the human experience. The sermon argues that acknowledging our limits and grieving our losses can lead to spiritual growth and transformation, aligning with the Christian belief that life comes through death and resurrection.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) presents the theme that Jesus' weeping signifies his deep compassion and empathy for human suffering. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus is not distant or indifferent to our pain but is moved by it, offering comfort and presence in times of grief. This theme is distinct in its focus on the relational aspect of Jesus' empathy, encouraging believers to see Jesus as a compassionate companion in their suffering.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) presents the theme that God's presence in our suffering is a testament to his empathy and understanding. The sermon highlights that Jesus' weeping shows his deep connection to human grief and his awareness of the divine plan, suggesting that believers can trust in God's goodness even when they don't understand their circumstances. This theme encourages believers to surrender their need for understanding and trust in God's character and plan.

John 11:35 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Embracing Sadness: God's Love in Our Emotions (App Wesley Media) provides historical context by explaining the cultural beliefs of the time regarding gods and emotions. The sermon contrasts the Greek and Roman views of gods as emotionless with the Christian understanding of a God who feels and empathizes with human emotions. This insight highlights the revolutionary nature of Jesus's empathy in the context of first-century religious beliefs.

The Healing Power of Tears and Christ's Empathy (RevivalTab) provides historical context by explaining that Jesus' weeping occurred on the Mount of Olives, a significant location in biblical history. The sermon notes that Jesus wept twice on this mountain: once over Lazarus' death and once over Jerusalem's sins, highlighting the cultural and geographical significance of these events.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) provides historical context by explaining the Jewish belief in the resurrection of the body, where the soul was thought to hover over the body for three days. This context is used to highlight the significance of Jesus arriving on the fourth day after Lazarus' death, demonstrating his power over death and his intention to reveal a deeper understanding of life and resurrection.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) provides insight into the cultural expectations of the Jewish people regarding the Messiah. The sermon explains that Jews, including John the Baptist, expected a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule and establish a political kingdom. This context helps explain why John the Baptist might have been confused or offended when Jesus did not meet these expectations, highlighting the cultural and historical backdrop of the time.

John 11:35 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Sadness: God's Love in Our Emotions (App Wesley Media) references 1 John to emphasize God's love and light, suggesting that even in sadness, believers are enveloped in God's love. The sermon uses these passages to reinforce the idea that God's presence is a source of hope and light, even in the darkest emotions.

Faith and Timing: Embracing God's Presence in Pain (Access Church) references Isaiah 53:3 to connect Jesus's weeping with the prophecy of a suffering Messiah. This cross-reference is used to illustrate that Jesus's empathy and emotional expression were foretold and are integral to His identity as the Savior.

The Healing Power of Tears and Christ's Empathy (RevivalTab) references several Bible passages to support the interpretation of John 11:35. Romans 12:15 is cited to emphasize the biblical call to weep with those who weep, while Isaiah 53:3 is used to describe Jesus as a man of sorrows acquainted with grief. The sermon also references Psalm 30:5 and Ecclesiastes 3:4 to illustrate the biblical acknowledgment of weeping and mourning as part of the human experience.

Finding Hope and Growth in Grief and Loss (Kingsford Church of Christ) references Ecclesiastes 3:4 to highlight the biblical teaching that there is a time for everything, including a time to grieve. The sermon also mentions Job's story as a biblical example of enduring and processing grief, drawing parallels between Job's experience and the human condition.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) references Romans 8, where the Apostle Paul speaks about creation groaning and waiting for redemption. This passage is used to illustrate the shared experience of suffering and the hope for relief and intervention from God. The sermon connects this to the idea that Jesus weeps with us and understands our pain, reinforcing the theme of shared suffering and hope for redemption.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) references Isaiah 61, which speaks of the Messiah bringing good news to the poor and liberty to captives. The sermon suggests that John the Baptist might have been offended because he expected Jesus to fulfill this prophecy by releasing him from prison. The sermon also references Proverbs 3:5-6, encouraging believers to trust in the Lord and not lean on their own understanding, using this to support the idea of surrendering to God's plan.

John 11:35 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Sadness: God's Love in Our Emotions (App Wesley Media) cites William Barclay, a Scottish New Testament scholar, who highlights the significance of Jesus's empathy as a revelation of a God who cares deeply for humanity. This reference is used to support the sermon’s theme of God's empathetic nature.

Finding Hope and Growth in Grief and Loss (Kingsford Church of Christ) references Pete Scazzaro's works, "Emotionally Healthy Discipleship" and "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality," to support the discussion on grief and loss. The sermon also cites Gerald Sitzer's book "A Grace Disguised," which reflects on the transformative power of facing grief and loss.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) references Bishop Paul Morton's song, which speaks about tears being a release of pain. This reference is used to support the idea that crying is a natural and healing response to grief, aligning with the sermon's message that Jesus' weeping is an example of healthy emotional expression.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) references Stuart Weber from the Holman New Testament Commentary, who explains that the Jews expected a Messiah who would overthrow Rome with military might. The sermon also cites William Mount, who discusses the Greek word "skandalon" and its implications for understanding offense in the context of Jesus' ministry. Additionally, the sermon quotes Bill Johnson, who warns against the desire to understand God leading to bad doctrine, and John Bevere, who emphasizes trusting God's character even when we don't understand his actions.

John 11:35 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing Sadness: God's Love in Our Emotions (App Wesley Media) uses a family from New Zealand who watches videos about American culture as an analogy to illustrate how cultural differences can lead to surprise and misunderstanding. This example is used to draw a parallel to how people might be surprised by the prevalence of sadness and depression in the U.S., setting the stage for a discussion on the emotion of sadness.

Faith and Timing: Embracing God's Presence in Pain (Access Church) shares a personal story about the speaker's experience on a game show, "Don't Forget the Lyrics," to illustrate the tension of knowing the outcome but still experiencing stress and excitement. This analogy is used to encourage the audience to engage with the story of Lazarus as if they do not know the ending, to fully appreciate the layers of miracles within the narrative.

The Healing Power of Tears and Christ's Empathy (RevivalTab) uses the example of Jimmy Kimmel's emotional interview with Regina King to illustrate empathy. The sermon also references cultural sayings and songs, such as "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina," to discuss societal attitudes toward crying and emotions.

Finding Hope and Growth in Grief and Loss (Kingsford Church of Christ) mentions the movie and TV series "Limitless" to critique the cultural narrative of living without limits. The sermon uses this reference to contrast societal messages with the biblical perspective on limits and loss.

Embracing Grief: Jesus Weeps with Us (None) uses the analogy of a parent watching their child in pain to illustrate Jesus' empathy and compassion. This secular analogy helps convey the depth of Jesus' emotional connection to human suffering, making the concept more relatable to the audience.

Trusting God Amidst Unmet Expectations and Offense (The Father's House) uses a metaphor involving a chair to illustrate the concept of leaning not on one's own understanding. The sermon describes understanding as a broken chair that cannot support us, emphasizing the need to trust in God instead. This analogy helps convey the idea that human understanding is limited and unreliable compared to God's infinite wisdom.