The phrase “groaned in the spirit” appears in John 11:33 in the English Standard Version of the Bible, which reads: “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” This verse describes Jesus’ emotional reaction upon seeing Mary and the other mourners weeping over the death of Lazarus. But what exactly does it mean that Jesus “groaned in the spirit”? A few key points help explain this phrase.
First, the Greek word translated as “groaned” is embrimaomai, which means to express strong emotion, often anger or indignation. However, in this context, it refers to Jesus expressing His grief and sorrow. So this groaning was an outward manifestation of Jesus’ inner turmoil over the tragic death of His friend Lazarus.
Second, the text says Jesus was moved or troubled “in his spirit.” The word for spirit is pneuma, which can also be translated as “inner self.” This helps convey that this groaning came from deep within Jesus – it reflected His profound emotional disturbance over the situation. His spirit was moved with compassion for those in mourning.
Third, John 11:35 simply states, “Jesus wept.” This shortest verse in the Bible adds an important detail – Jesus not only groaned internally but He also outwardly shed tears. The groaning and weeping both demonstrate the sincerity and depth of Jesus’ emotional response.
Putting these points together, we can understand “groaned in the spirit” in John 11:33 to mean Jesus audibly expressed the heartfelt grief, anger, and turmoil churning within His inner being. He ached over the devastation death brings, and He lamented the brokenness in the world caused by sin.
Jesus was profoundly moved by empathy for the mourners. Though He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11:11-15), in that moment Jesus entered into their sorrow and pain. He felt the weight of death’s sting and the wrenching grief of untimely loss. By groaning in spirit, Jesus displayed a fully human emotional reaction to unfoldings, not just divine detachment.
This phrase reminds us of two key truths about Jesus. First, as God in the flesh, He fully participated in the human experience. He intimately identifies with our sufferings having endured them Himself. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.” Second, Jesus’ emotional response reflects God’s compassion. Jesus wept over the destructive impacts of sin, though He would ultimately conquer sin and death.
In our own lives, we can take comfort knowing Jesus understands our pain and grief. We can cast our cares on Him, confident in His compassion and ability to heal our brokenness. Though mourning may last for the night, joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). And one day, He will wipe away every tear and make all things new (Revelation 21:4-5).
In summary, “groaned in the spirit” refers to Jesus audibly expressing deep emotional turmoil over Lazarus’ death and the grief of his loved ones. Jesus fully participated in the agonies of the human condition. He compassionately identifies with our suffering and offers divine hope of redemption and resurrection. When we walk through hard times, we can look to His example and draw strength from His Spirit, who comforts and sustains us.
1. The meaning of “groaned in the spirit”
The core phrase being examined is “groaned in the spirit,” which appears in John 11:33. Breaking this down word-by-word gives insight into its meaning:
- “Groaned” translates the Greek word embrimaomai, meaning to express oneself loudly, often in anger or indignation. Here it refers to audibly expressing grief.
- “In the spirit” uses the Greek pneuma, meaning inner self. So this groaning originated deep within Jesus.
Combined together, “groaned in the spirit” means Jesus loudly expressed the profound sorrow welling up from within His inner being. The groaning gave audible evidence to the depth of His emotional turmoil.
2. The context of Jesus groaning
Looking at the broader context of John 11 illuminates what prompted this intense emotional response from Jesus:
- Jesus was deeply troubled upon hearing His friend Lazarus was sick (John 11:33-35).
- Lazarus died, and Jesus went to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried four days earlier (John 11:17).
- When Jesus saw the mourning and weeping of Mary, Lazarus’ sister, He also began to weep (John 11:33-35).
So Jesus groaned in His spirit due to the gravity of Lazarus’ death and experiencing the grief of those who had lost a beloved friend and brother. Despite knowing He would raise Lazarus (John 11:11), Jesus entered into their sorrow.
3. The meaning of Jesus weeping
John 11:35 provides additional insight – “Jesus wept.” The Greek word used here is dakruo, meaning to shed tears as an outward display of grief. The groaning and weeping together amplify the intensity of Jesus’ emotional response. This teaches several things about Jesus:
- He fully participated in the depths of human emotion.
- He was deeply moved by empathy and compassion for those mourning.
- He laments the pain and brokenness sin brings into the world.
Jesus was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3). And in this passage, He gives us an open window into His soul.
4. The doctrine of God’s impassibility
Some theological perspectives emphasize God’s impassibility, meaning He is not subject to or affected by human emotions. How then do we interpret Jesus “groaning in spirit” in light of this doctrine?
There are a few factors to consider here:
- As the incarnate Son, Jesus had a fully human nature through which He authentically experienced human emotion.
- The divine nature of Christ remained impassible, untouched by suffering or change.
- Jesus’ emotional expressions voluntarily displayed, not involuntary passions controlling Him.
- Through the incarnation, we see a self-revelation of God’s heart of compassion identifying with human grief.
So in His humanity, Jesus grieved over Lazarus while remaining perfectly surrendered to the divine will. His emotions flowed out of His godly compassion, not mere human passions.
5. Principles we can learn
This account of Jesus groaning in spirit offers some helpful principles believers can apply:
- Authenticity – Jesus gives us an example of openly expressing our genuine emotions, both grief and joy.
- Compassion – We follow Christ by entering into others’ pain and showing His love in tangible ways.
- Hope – Though death causes separation and grief now, Jesus’ victory over death and His resurrection promise reunion and joy for eternity.
- Perseverance – When we walk through suffering, we can look to Jesus who fully understands our pains and intercedes for us.
In our times of weeping, Jesus weeps with us. And through the ministry of the Spirit, He brings comfort, peace, strength, and hope that can endure any sorrow.
6. Jesus as our high priest
An important theological theme connected to this passage is Jesus as our great high priest:
- In the Old Testament, the high priest could sympathize with weaknesses and make atonement for sins (Hebrews 5:1-3).
- Jesus fulfilled this more perfectly as the eternal High Priest, made like us to be our merciful and faithful intercessor (Hebrews 2:17-18).
- His groaning in spirit gives us insight into His capacity for understanding, empathy, and compassion.
- Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.”
Because Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4), He can powerfully relate to our human struggles as He intercedes on our behalf before the Father’s throne.
7. Applications to Christian life
This account also has important applications for our lives as believers:
- We can freely express our grief knowing Jesus understands our sorrows.
- Jesus’ groaning reminds us of the impacts of sin and Fall, motivating us to share the gospel.
- We look forward in hope to the day when Christ will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
- Christ promises we will be comforted as we embrace the comfort He gives through the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
- We follow Jesus’ example of entering into others’ pain and showing compassion in tangible ways.
Though grief may linger through the night, we can trust Jesus to bring joy with the morning dawn. And through His power at work within us, our momentary afflictions are producing an eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
8. Connection to the resurrection of Lazarus
This passage also foreshadows Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:
- Jesus delayed going to Bethany upon hearing Lazarus was sick because He knew God’s plan (John 11:6, 11).
- When Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days (John 11:39). This confirmed the resurrection was a true miracle.
- Jesus standing before Lazarus’ tomb parallels Himself soon to be entombed and resurrected.
- As our eternal High Priest, death could not contain Jesus (Hebrews 7:16). His resurrection defeated death for all who believe.
So amidst the sorrow of Lazarus’ death, Jesus was moved with empathy yet also filled with the hope and power of the resurrection. His raising Lazarus displayed His authority of life over death.
9. Connection to Jesus’ death and resurrection
This account foreshadows Jesus’ own death and resurrection in several important ways:
- Like Lazarus, Jesus would soon lay dead in a tomb for days before miraculously rising again.
- Jesus feeling deep turmoil and weeping parallels the intense sorrow He bore leading up to the cross (Luke 22:44).
- This displays how Jesus fully entered into human suffering in order to redeem it.
- As our high priest, Jesus experienced grief and death so He could open the way to eternal life.
So from His spirit-groaning to the cross, Jesus powerfully demonstrated the extent of His love and compassion for humanity in our affliction. His triumph over death gives us living hope.
10. Jesus as the resurrection and the life
An important theological truth Jesus proclaims in John 11 is that He Himself is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25):
- Martha expressed her belief Jesus could have healed Lazarus if present before he died.
- Jesus goes further – His power transcends life, death, and the realm of the grave itself.
- Physical resurrection and spiritual, eternal life are found in Christ alone.
- All who believe in Jesus, though they die, yet shall they live again (John 11:25).
So amidst the sorrow of Lazarus’ death, Jesus points to Himself as the divine source of resurrection and eternal life for all who place their faith in Him. He alone holds power over life, death, and what lies beyond.
