Everyone knows that the shortest verse in the Bible is “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). But is it really the shortest? In Greek, John 11:35 is “Edakrysen ho Iēsous,” three words instead of two. There are two shorter verses: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray unceasingly.” Both these verses are only two words in Greek. We will look at these “short” verses to see how much we can learn about our Savior, Jesus Christ.
To “cry” and “weep” describe shedding tears. Tears typically respond to strong emotions such as sadness, pain, or joy. However, there is a subtle difference between the two words. “Cry” is a more general term encompassing a range of emotions and may not always imply intense emotional distress. On the other hand, “weep” has a more specific connotation of deep sorrow or grief.
(John 11:32-35)1NIV New International Version Translations – “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ‘Where have you laid him?’ he asked. ‘Come and see, Lord,’ they replied. Jesus wept.”
The story behind John 11:35 is as follows: Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, fell ill. Jesus knew Lazarus was sick, but took His time returning to Mary and Martha’s home where Lazarus lived. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus was dead and in his tomb. Jesus was deeply moved by the sorrow of Lazarus’s sisters and the crowd’s mourning. Jesus asked to be shown where Lazarus was laid, and upon seeing the tomb, He wept. Jesus then performed a miraculous act by calling Lazarus out of the tomb, raising him from the dead, demonstrating His divine power and compassion.
The significance of Jesus’ weeping is profound. Tears highlight Jesus’ humanity and His ability to feel deep emotions. This story shows that Jesus was both divine and fully human, capable of experiencing sorrow and empathy. As Christians who are called to place their faith in Jesus, it is essential to grasp the significance of that moment. God, who created all things, including our world and our very being, allowed Himself to be constrained to the limits of a human. There is no more significant demonstration of love and compassion than the Incarnation. The Incarnation is the central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, assuming a human nature and becoming a man in the form of Jesus Christ. This means Jesus was fully divine and human, united in one person.
Jesus was Born of a Woman
One of the Bible verses that documents Jesus’ birth is found in the book of Luke. Galatians 4:4 states, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” This verse highlights Jesus’ humanity by emphasizing that He was born of a woman.
Jesus Ate Food
Jesus dined at the house of Zacchaeus, a tax collector (Luke 19:1-10). This act of fellowship demonstrated His mission to seek and save the lost. We also see that Jesus dined at the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20; Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; John 13:1-30). This was a profoundly symbolic meal where Jesus instituted the Eucharist. He broke bread and shared wine with His disciples, calling them His body and blood, signifying a New Covenant for those who believe in Him.
One of the Bible verses that mentions Jesus’ eating after His resurrection is found in the Gospel of Luke. Luke 24:42-43 states: “So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.” This verse shows that He ate with His disciples to demonstrate to them that He was alive and had a physical body.
Jesus Needed Water
John 4:7 states, “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.‘” This verse implies that Jesus was thirsty and needed water. Thirst is an essential human response to insufficient water.
Jesus Needed Sleep
According to the Gospel of Matthew, it is recorded that Jesus slept during a storm. Matthew 8:24 states: “Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.” This verse highlights Jesus’ humanity by showing that He needed rest like any other person.
Jesus Felt Pain
Jesus could experience emotional pain, as evidenced by His tears at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35) and His lament over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-42).
Before Jesus’s crucifixion, He experienced intense sorrow and anguish. In Matthew 26:37-39, He says, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” During Jesus’s trial, He was flogged, mocked, and ultimately nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:26-31).
Jesus Bled and Died
John 19:30 states: “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!‘ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” This verse describes the moment when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus died for you and me!
In John 19:34, it states, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” This response is very human and called a haemothorax, which, in the stillness of a dead body, is separated into two layers: the heavier red cells below and the light, watery plasma above. The “haemothorax” was the result of the savage flagellation Jesus received before being crucified. It was a final sign of His humanity that Jesus was lifeless.
Two more short verses, each with two words, that point to a very human Jesus.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “pantote chairete,” translates to “Always Rejoice“. This shows that Jesus also experienced joy, a fundamental human emotion.
- In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “adialeiptōs proseuchesthe,” means “Pray without ceasing.” Consistent with the Gospels, we see Jesus engaging in prayer, an ordinary human practice.
The Importance of the Incarnation and Humanity of Christ
If Christ were not a human, the resurrection would be no miracle. As God, Jesus could not die. As a man, His death was nothing more than that which befalls every human on earth. As a human, Jesus went on to show us the greatest miracle ever. There is life after death. It is why we should “Always Rejoice” and “Pray without Ceasing.” It’s potent; what a tear can do! We find ourselves today reconciled to God by the humanity of Jesus!
Jesus’ humanity means he experienced life as you and I do—joy, sorrow, pain, and temptation. This makes Him relatable and provides a personal connection to our faith. His human experience demonstrates that He understands our struggles and sympathizes with our challenges because He lived them. It was Jesus’ humanity that allowed Him to die on the cross. As a human, His sacrifice can be seen as genuine and meaningful, bridging the gap between humanity and God.
Contemplations
- Most of human history accepts that there is a higher power we call the Creator. Why do you think that it is so much harder to accept the idea that God would constrain Himself within the limits of a single human being to draw us closer to Him and call Him His Son?
- Ideas to Explore: Is it the humble nature of Jesus that makes Him so hard to accept? What about the resurrection do people fail to grasp? Do you think the world is looking for some extraordinary proof?
- Historical and archeological evidence establishes the existence of a man named Jesus. Add to that the Bible, and there is overwhelming support for our Savior. Is it the idea of Incarnation that is so hard to accept?
- Ideas to Explore: What would you accept as proof of the Incarnation? Can you imagine any other human in history like Jesus Christ? Doesn’t that make Him very special?
- What does knowing that Jesus wept mean to you?
- Ideas to Explore: Relate better and accept Jesus as a human more easily. How do you feel about Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'” Notice the plurality of God’s use of the word “OUR.” The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have existed for all eternity!
- 1NIV New International Version Translations