Twice in John 11 Jesus' emotion is described as “angry” or “intensely moved”. (HCSB, NetBible) The exact word is not the issue but the intensity and depth of the emotion is to be noted. A translator's note on verse 33 in the NetBible reads as follows;

Or (perhaps) “he was deeply indignant.” The verb ἐνεβριμήσατο (enebrimhsato), which is repeated in John 11:38, indicates a strong display of emotion, somewhat difficult to translate – “shuddered, moved with the deepest emotions.” In the LXX, the verb and its cognates are used to describe a display of indignation (Dan 11:30, for example – see also Mark 14:5). Jesus displayed this reaction to the afflicted in Mark 1:43, Matt 9:30. Was he angry at the afflicted? No, but he was angry because he found himself face-to-face with the manifestations of Satan’s kingdom of evil. Here, the realm of Satan was represented by death. (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Joh&chapter=11#n64)

In both verses (33 and 38) Jesus does not analyze or intellectualize the condition of man, he feels it. Jesus understands our situation all too well. He empathizes with us and is more in touch with our pain than we are. His indignation and intense emotions were not because of Lazarus' death. In verse 44 Lazarus will be raised from the dead. No, Jesus was pained because of the oppressive and pervasive nature of sin as well as its consequences.

When do I feel anger? When am I deeply moved? When am I indignant? Most times my feelings are driven by personal affronts, inconveniences, annoyances and misunderstanding. There have not been many times where I had a deep emotional reaction to the tragic impact of sin. However, Jesus' example compels me to grow in my emotional depth as a Christian.

Couched between verses 33 and 38 is verse 35 which states, “Jesus wept.” Not a mournful wailing, but

⁶⁹ sn Jesus wept. The Greek word used here for Jesus’ weeping (ἐδάκρυσεν, edakrusen) is different from the one used to describe the weeping of Mary and the Jews in v. 33 which indicated loud wailing and cries of lament. This word simply means “to shed tears” and has more the idea of quiet grief. But why did Jesus do this? Not out of grief for Lazarus, since he was about to be raised to life again. L. Morris (John [NICNT], 558) thinks it was grief over the misconception of those round about. But it seems that in the context the weeping is triggered by the thought of Lazarus in the tomb: This was not personal grief over the loss of a friend (since Lazarus was about to be restored to life) but grief over the effects of sin, death, and the realm of Satan. It was a natural complement to the previous emotional expression of anger (11:33). It is also possible that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus because he knew there was also a tomb for himself ahead. (http://net.bible.org/bible.php?book=Joh&chapter=11#n69)

The condition of man is sad. We are tragic figures without the reign of the Lord God in our lives. If we have God's Spirit through faith, repentance, baptism and continued obedience then we too should grow in our emotions to feel as Jesus did. Our compassion should grow and we can gain the perspective of Matthew 9:36, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

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