Did Jesus’ own love and compassion for Lazarus and those weeping at Lazarus wake cause him to be troubled and weep, or was it something else?

John 11:36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” (NASB2020). Read the entire account in John 11.

Did the Jews present there that day, have such great discernment to be able to conclude that His weeping was out of His love for Lazarus? These Jews normally did not possess such discernment. So what might really have troubled Him? Jesus had known early on (long before this day) that His time “was not yet”, but now it was here. Belief and unbelief were at stake. He Himself was also about to eventually die in this plan. This was all being set up.

Martha had expressed some faith, but it was without full knowledge. She had believed that had Jesus been there that Lazarus would not have died. She also believed that whatever Jesus asked of the Father He would do, but did she believe that He “would ask”? No, but she trusted Him. Some of the Jews believed as she did, but some others would run to the Sanhedrin to tell what they had seen. They believed what they saw but were in disbelief over who He is. The Sanhedrin would proceed with actions based on their own disbelief.

Jesus knew all of this, and He was troubled. He knew that many would also trust Him, because of what He was about to do. And He knew that most in this world would never find it in their hearts to come to this same faith that Martha had in Him. He was troubled, and He wept.

What troubled Him did not stop Him from carrying out His plan, because it must proceed even though many would never believe and trust in Him.

Jesus did what He did then, that you and your seed might believe. He wept knowing that many, who had heard and who would see His miracles in life would not believe, and that many who did see, would not trust Him with their own life. Don’t let those around you go on without your own attempt to share with them the knowledge that you possess of God’s Son. Don’t let the opportunity pass even though you may be troubled.

He tells us, who have met Him to go and tell others that they to might meet Him and believe.