ACC ~ John 11 v35
HE WEPT BUT DID NOT MOURN
HIPPOLYTUS What need was there to weep for him whom he was soon about to raise? But Jesus wept to give us an example of sympathy and kindliness toward our fellow human beings. Jesus wept that he might by deed rather than word teach us to âweep with those that weep.â [1] He wept but did not mournâavoiding absolute tearlessness as harsh and inhuman but rejecting love of mourning as ignoble and cowardly. He wept, assigning due measure to his sympathy. ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN AND THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS. [2]
[1] Rom 12:15.
[2] AEG 4:173*; GCS 1 2:224.
TEARS AT WELCOMING LAZARUS BACK?
PETER CHRYSOLOGUS Christ was deeply agitated with his inner organs all in turmoil, because at this point he was going to raise up only Lazarus and not yet all the dead. Who then could think that Christ shed tears on this occasion out of human weakness when the heavenly Father weeps over the prodigal son, not when he goes away but at the moment when he welcomes him back? [1] And so, Christ shed tears over Lazarus because he was welcoming him back, not because he lost him. And to be sure, it is not when he sees the crowd weeping that Jesus weeps, but when he asks them questions and sees in their responses no trace of faith. [2] SERMON 64.3. [3]
[1] See Lk 15:20.
[2] See also Chromatius of Aquileia Sermon 27.2 for a similar opinion regarding the tears of agitation.
[3] FC 109:258*.
GOD WEPT, MOVED BY MORTALSâ TEARS
POTAMIUS OF LISBON God wept, moved by the tears of mortals, and although he was about to release Lazarus from the bond of death by the exercise of his power, he fulfilled the component of human affection with the comfort of his sympathetic tears. God wept, not because he learned that the young man had died before him but in order to moderate the sistersâ outpourings of grief. God wept, in order that God might do, with tears and compassion, what human beings do on behalf of their fellow human beings. God wept, because human nature had fallen to such an extent that, after being expelled from eternity, it had come to love the lower world. God wept, because those who could be immortal, the devil made mortal. God wept, because those whom he had rewarded with every benefit and had placed under his power, those whom he had set in paradise, among flowers and lilies without any hardship, the devil, by teaching them to sin, exiled from almost every delight. God wept, because those whom he had created innocent, the devil through his wickedness, caused to be found guilty. ON LAZARUS. [1]
[1] CCL 69A:172.
HE WEPT TO TEACH US TO WEEP
AUGUSTINE: Why did Christ weep except to teach us to weep? TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 49.19. [1]
[1] NPNF 1 7:276*; CCL 36:430.
JESUS SHOWED THERE ARE LIMITS TO GRIEF FOR CHRISTIANS
BASIL OF SELEUCIA Jesus wept by the tomb in order to give a limit for grief to lovers of Christ. By weeping, he ordained a law with his tears. He wept, he did not lament, or wail, or moan, or rend his garments or tear his hair. He defined the bounds of grief [as extending] only as far as the first tears. For why do you weep for a corpse that will be raised? Why do you weep for one who is awaiting the trumpet? Why do you lament as a corpse one who is [merely] sleeping? Why do you trouble one who is in repose with your cries? âChrist is arisen and became the firstfruits of those that slept.â [1] On hearing of one who is asleep, do not lament him as a corpse. Moderate your love by means of your tears. Do not offend the one who has experienced the resurrection by weeping immoderately. [2] For it is on this account that he is weeping by the tomb and allowing himself to suffer now, in order that he may expel your grief. HOMILY ON LAZARUS 6. [3]
[1] 1 Cor 15:20.
[2] The disapproval of the Greek fathers toward the expression of violent grief and ritual lamentation of the dead is discussed at length by Margaret Alexiou, The Ritual Lament in Greek Tradition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974), 28ff.
[3] AnBoll 104:180*.
JESUSâ MOTHER GAVE HIM THE GIFT OF WEEPING
IRENAEUS Why did he come down into [Mary his mother] if he were to take nothing of her? If he had taken nothing of Mary, he ⌠would never have wept over Lazarus. AGAINST HERESIES 3.22.2. [1]
[1] SC 34:376; ANF 1:454. For further reflection on the human nature of Christ and this passage, see Tertullian Against Praxeas 16; Gregory of Nazianzus Oration 38.15; Theodore Dialogues (FC 106:150).
JESUSâ TEARS ARE LIKE THE RAIN THAT WATERS THE EARTH
EPHREM THE SYRIAN His tears were like the rain, and Lazarus like a grain of wheat, and the tomb like the earth. He gave forth a cry like that of thunder, and death trembled at his voice. Lazarus burst forth like a grain of wheat. He came forth and adored his Lord who had raised him. COMMENTARY ON TATIANâS DIATESSARON 17.7. [1]
[1] ECTD 264.
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