To repeat what I said a few days in order to emphasize my point:
Jesus became angry and deeply troubled, cries and remains angry for sometime afterward. Why? He is certainly not showing the usual human emotion. Normally we cry at funeral because we are saddened by the departure of a close friend or relative. Even if the deceased was a Christian then we are really crying for ourselves because we will not see them again in this life and will miss them. But Jesus can’t be crying for that reason. He plans to raise Lazarus from the dead. It would be more fitting for Him to stand there and laugh at death in the midst of the funeral.
So what is going here? His feelings have to be connected with something more than Lazarus being dead. In a few short moments he won’t be dead. Having researched the words in the text we gain a better idea of what is happening. Jesus anger is a snort of indignation in the spirit. Deep seated indignation against what should not be. Death has come into this world through sin. Being at a friend’s funeral with the mourners wailing touches Jesus’ spirit and He reacts with a snort of indignation. A sense rising up against that which has ruined the plan for there to be no death and no suffering. Jesus feelings are rooted deep in the big picture. He knows His time has not yet come to deal with the big picture; to deal with sin once and for all. Later on he will shout “It is Finished.” But for the moment He must put up with a sin stained universe. That makes Him snort in indignation at the enemy of our souls, satan.
The second verb is simply the verb to cry, to shed tears. What is He crying about? Is He crying at the state of things as they are? I refuse to believe He is crying at losing Lazarus. It can’t be that. It has to be a continuation of the feelings of indignation and frustration at this universe crying out waiting for its redemption.
Then we are told that Jesus was still “angry” when He came to the grave. His spirit groaned within him again. For me it is either because of the continuation of the feelings of indignation or it’s maybe as a result of the comments made by the people. When Jesus wept there were different interpretations placed on His weeping. Some said “See how much He loved him!” (Joh 11:36) But others said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t He have kept Lazarus from dying?” (Joh 11:37) The second comment contains an element of disbelief. He healed the blind, can’t he do more? Why not? Prove yourself by showing us another stage in your power. Or there was disbelief in whether he really healed the blind man or not. There were many “healers” around in the land who were not genuine. Much like today: a mixture of the real and the fake. So which is it here? Can we believe he healed the blind man or not?
For me, my money is on a continuation of His indignation at the satanic effects on this created world. The fact that death has entered His Father’s perfect world in the first place. You choose what you think.
Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.
Anon
Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn’t hack it, so they gave me the axe.