John 11:1-35

When Jesus Wept: Glory, Grief, and the Resurrection of Lazarus

In this lesson, we enter one of the most profound and theologically rich chapters in the entire Gospel of John — the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Teacher Tony Padgett opens by establishing the critical structural shift in John's Gospel: the first ten chapters span roughly three years of Jesus' public ministry, while chapters 11 through 21 condense into a final two- to three-month period leading directly to the cross. At the center of this chapter stands a deliberate delay — Jesus waits two days before traveling to Bethany, not out of indifference, but because Lazarus's sickness was appointed for the glory of God and the glorification of the Son. We examine three distinct responses to Jesus in the face of crisis: the disciples' fear as they return to the region where threats against Jesus' life had been issued; Martha's remarkable confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, even in the depths of her sorrow; and Mary's grief-filled prostration at the feet of Jesus. Perhaps most memorably, we linger over the two shortest words in the English Bible — "Jesus wept" — confronting the breathtaking truth that the Son of God, who is Himself the Resurrection and the Life, chose to enter fully into our human sorrow rather than stand apart from it.

Sunday, June 14, 2026 @ 9:30 a.m.

This is Class #32, using Study Questions #18

by The Brookfield Church of Christ

Facilitated by Tony Padgett