Lux Domini
Jesus wept.

What does John 11:35 mean?

Christ's tender sympathy with these afflicted friends, appeared by the troubles of his spirit. In all the afflictions of believers he is afflicted.

Key themes

LoveFaithSuffering and trialsTruthIncarnation

Read with

Keep this verse inside John 11:35-37 and alongside a few nearby related passages.

Commentary on John 11:35

Jesus wept. Jesus wept - It has been remarked that this is the shortest verse in the Bible; but it is exceedingly important and tender. It shows the Lord Jesus as a friend, a tender friend, and evinces his character as a man. And from this we learn: 1. That the most tender personal friendship is not inconsistent with the most pure religion. Piety binds stronger the ties of friendship, makes more tender the emotions of love, and seals and sanctifies the affections of friends. 2. It is right, it is natural, it is indispensable for the Christian to sympathize with others in their afflictions. Romans 12:15 ; "rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Context in John 11

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John 11 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as farewell discourse. John presents Jesus in contemplative, symbolic, and theological richness as the Word, Lamb, Light, Bread, Shepherd, Resurrection, Way, Vine, and Son. Read this chapter with the wider themes of incarnation, life, and light in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

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Bible verses about love

A guided collection of passages on God’s love, neighbor-love, steadfast covenant love, and the shape of love in Christian life.

Bible verses about faith

Passages on trusting God, receiving Christ, persevering without sight, and the relation between faith and lived obedience.

Bible verses about suffering and trials

Key passages on grief, endurance, lament, divine mystery, and the Christian claim that suffering is neither final nor meaningless.

Bible verses about truth

Passages on the nature of truth, honesty, deception, the word of God as truth, and Jesus' claim to be the truth.

Who quoted John 11:35?