The Three Times Jesus Wept and What We Can Learn from It
Quick Summary
The Gospels and Hebrews record three times when Jesus wept: at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35), over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44), and in prayer (Hebrews 5:7). Each reveals his compassion, lament, and solidarity with human suffering.
Introduction
The shortest verse in the Bible—“Jesus wept” (John 11:35)—is also one of the most powerful. But Scripture shows that Jesus wept on more than one occasion. In fact, the Bible gives us three moments when the Son of God shed tears: at the grave of his friend Lazarus, over the city of Jerusalem, and in anguished prayer before the cross. Each moment teaches us something about his heart, his mission, and his identification with our pain.
For a Savior often portrayed as strong, authoritative, and commanding, these moments of vulnerability show us another side: the Jesus who enters into grief. This article will walk through the three times Jesus wept and explore what they mean for our faith today.
1. Jesus Wept at Lazarus’ Tomb (John 11:35)
The most famous moment is found in John 11:35: “Jesus wept.” Standing at the tomb of Lazarus, surrounded by grieving friends and mourners, Jesus does not remain stoic or detached. He shares in their sorrow. Though he knows he will raise Lazarus within moments, he still chooses to enter the pain of the moment. His tears affirm that grief matters, even when hope is near.
This weeping shows the fullness of Jesus’ humanity. He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), and in that flesh he experiences sorrow, empathy, and tears. His weeping also shows the depth of his love—he is moved not only by Lazarus’ death but by the grief of Mary and Martha.
What we learn: Jesus is not distant from our grief. He weeps with us in our losses, and his presence transforms our mourning into hope.
2. Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44)
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem during his triumphal entry, he sees the city and begins to weep. His lament is not over personal loss but over the people’s blindness to God’s ways. “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace!” (Luke 19:42). His tears anticipate the destruction that will come because the city did not recognize the time of God’s visitation.
This weeping is prophetic. Like Jeremiah weeping over Jerusalem centuries earlier, Jesus laments a people resistant to God’s call. His tears reveal divine sorrow over hardened hearts and the consequences of rejection.
What we learn: Jesus’ tears are not only for individuals but also for communities and nations. He cares about justice, peace, and our collective response to God. His lament challenges us to see where our own communities may be blind to God’s ways.
3. Jesus Wept in Prayer (Hebrews 5:7)
The third moment comes not in the Gospels but in the book of Hebrews: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). This likely points to his agony in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39–46), when he prayed in anguish before his arrest.
Here Jesus’ tears express the weight of his mission. He knows the suffering and death awaiting him, and he pours out his soul with tears before the Father. His lament is not weakness but obedience. Hebrews reminds us that these prayers were heard because of his reverent submission.
What we learn: Jesus’ tears give us permission to bring our deepest anguish before God. He shows us that prayer can be raw, honest, and tear-filled—and that God hears.
What the Three Times Jesus Wept Teach Us
Together, these three episodes paint a full picture of Jesus’ compassion:
Personal Compassion – He weeps with friends in their grief (John 11:35).
Prophetic Lament – He weeps over a city blind to peace (Luke 19:41).
Prayerful Anguish – He weeps before God in the face of suffering (Hebrews 5:7).
In each case, his tears are not empty gestures but signs of love and solidarity. They show us that sorrow and faith are not opposites. To weep is not to lack faith—it is to join our hearts with the heart of Christ.
The Three Times Jesus Wept: Meaning for Today
Knowing that Jesus wept gives us courage to bring our emotions honestly before God. We do not need to hide our grief, frustration, or lament. Jesus himself modeled a faith that cries.
For those mourning personal loss, his tears at Lazarus’ tomb assure us that he weeps with us and promises resurrection hope. For those worried about our world, his tears over Jerusalem remind us that God laments injustice and longs for peace. For those struggling in private anguish, his tears in prayer invite us to pour our hearts out before God, trusting that we are heard.
In a culture that often sees tears as weakness, Jesus dignifies them as holy. His weeping reveals divine love at its most vulnerable and most powerful.
FAQ
How many times did Jesus weep in the Bible?
Scripture records three times: at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:35), over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44), and in prayer with loud cries and tears (Hebrews 5:7).
Why did Jesus weep?
He wept out of compassion for friends, lament over a city, and anguish before the Father. His tears show both his humanity and his divine love.
What can we learn from the tears of Jesus?
We learn that God shares in our sorrows, laments our brokenness, and welcomes our tear-filled prayers. Jesus’ weeping sanctifies our own tears.
Works Consulted
Raymond E. Brown, The Gospel According to John I–XII (Anchor Yale Bible).
D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary).
Gail R. O’Day, John (New Interpreter’s Bible).
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of John: A Commentary.
Andreas J. Köstenberger, John (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament).
