The Story Of Easter and Eternity In Two Words

By Dr. Jake Bake

Jesus Wept – we learned from childhood that these words comprised the shortest passage in scripture.  Jesus Wept – John Chapter 11, verse thirty-five. 

But in these two words is found and fulfilled all of scripture from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.  Jesus Wept.  Two words that encompass all of history, prophecy, redemption, courage, and hope … Jesus Wept!

We all know the story.  Yeshua was not in Judea when he received the message from Mary and Martha that Lazarus was very sick.  But Yeshua stayed where he was for two more days. During that time, Lazarus died.

The disciples debated as to whether or not to go to Bethany. They were afraid that the Jews would once again try to kill Yeshua.  In fact, Thomas said, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”  Always The Doubter.

The walk from where Yeshua was, beyond the Jordan, was a two-day trek to Judea.  Upon his arrival in Bethany, which was a couple of miles from Jerusalem, Yeshua was greeted by Martha with what amounted to an accusation.  “Lord, why didn’t you come when I called for you – if you would have come immediately, Lazarus wouldn’t have died,” … as if to say … this is your fault.”

But then she softens and says, “But I know that you can fix this if you talk to God.”

Yeshua reassured her that her brother would rise again. So, Martha, the impetuous one, tells her sister Mary, “The master is looking for you.”

Upon hearing these words Mary departed immediately to find Yeshua.  There is so much here to uncover – so many layers – but we will save that for another time. 

As was the custom in those days, their Jewish friends had gathered to comfort the two sisters at their home, for what we would call today, Lazarus’ wake. When they saw Mary leaving, they assumed that she was going to the tomb. The mourners followed after her to weep for Lazarus’ passing.  At that time the rich would even hire professional weepers or mourners to show how loved the deceased was. 

But scripture tells us that,

 “When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled and said,

“Where have ye laid him?”

They said unto him, “Lord, come and see.”

Yeshua was troubled.  Not saddened … Troubled

The Greek word used in this scripture is tar-as’-so which means:

To cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity – to disquiet, make restless – to stir up – to trouble – to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread – to render anxious or distressed.

Then we see the words in vs 35 – Jesus Wept – He was troubled and he wept.

As children we were told that he wept because he was sad that Lazarus was dead.  He wept because he felt sorry for Mary and Martha. But that hardly makes sense inasmuch as He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead.  So why was Yeshua troubled?

Was it because of all the weeping and mourning?  Probably not because this was the appointed time to show all of these people the power of the Father.

Was it because He had allowed Mary and Martha to suffer through this pain of losing their brother and it broke His heart?  No, because He did only what the Father told Him to do and that obviously had been to stay where He was when He received the message and then to go to Bethany later. 

Again, the scriptures confirm that Yeshua knew Lazarus would die and that He would raise him from the dead to show the awesome power of Yahweh. So, why did Messiah weep?  Perhaps the answer would be seen four days later and two miles down the road at the crucifixion. 

Maybe Yeshua wept because He knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem, for it would be there that He would face not only death but the inevitability of hell that awaited all of us but for His atoning sacrifice.  Maybe Yeshua was reminded that from creation until that exact moment and until the end of all time that He had been appointed to suffer and die for the sins of all mankind for all eternity.

He knew the physical suffering reserved for Him on this journey.  He knew the spiritual separation from the Father that He would endure. He knew of the eternity of hell that He faced for our sins.  Perhaps, He felt all these emotions. 

When He saw that tomb He felt the weight of the world’s sin on His shoulders like the condemned man seeing the gallows for the first time.  He saw it … He felt it … He fully embraced His fate – which would unfold in just four short days.  And Jesus wept. 

We all know today from reading the scriptures that Lazarus was raised by the power of Yahweh and to most of us, that story ended there.  But there is no end to the story in Heaven.  This was just one more short chapter.  All of Heaven still had to watch the rest of the passion play unfold in all of its power, in all of its pain, suffering, and death.

I can only imagine what was unfolding in Heaven as this story played out in human time.  First the accusations, the mock trial, the ridicule by the Jews.  The deserting and denial of those who knew Him best … and then came the beatings, humiliation, and crucifixion as the nails were driven violently into his hands and feet.

For about three hours that day darkness came across the entire land. I can see all of Heaven gasping in what must have seemed an eternity.  But the gasping was not for the horror of seeing Heaven’s king tortured, crucified, and brutally murdered.  The gasp was a gasp of absolute awe at the courage, faith, and power of Messiah, who willingly embraced this brutality and grabbed hold of an eternity of hell for Yahweh’s creation that man might be redeemed through Him, the perfect sacrifice, who alone was able to take upon Himself the perfect wrath of the Father for the sins of all humanity.    

Yeshua cried out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” then finally came death and hell.

And the breathtaking awe of this moment in eternity filled the heavens and flooded the earth and the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, The earth shook, the rocks were split open and many of the dead were raised to life.

“Surely, He was the Son of Yahweh!”

The enmity between Yahweh and man was washed away in the blood of the Lamb in this one awesome moment. And then there was silence.  The silence of a moment too awesome to explain, or to speak of, or even imagine. 

Three days and three nights later, as the sun set and the moon began to rise at the end of the Sabbath, in that twilight time between light and darkness, the redemption of mankind was completed as the Spirit said to Messiah … “Come forth.” 

All Heaven exploded in praise that still echoes throughout history and time.  It is finished.  And on that Sunday morning Messiah presented himself to the Father no longer as the blood offering but as the wave offering on the day of First Fruits and it was complete. 

The darkness had been lifted, the curtain to the Holy of Holies parted and we had been anointed as believers – a royal priesthood – a holy nation. The journey from Genesis to Revelation had been walked out in completion and our redemption was in that awesome moment of eternity … forever won.