11:33 What is meant by "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled"?
11:33 What is meant by "He groaned in the spirit and was troubled"?
This has to do with the death of Jesus' friend, Lazarus (CP V1-6, 11-15, 19-40).
The phrase groaned in the spirit in V33 and 38 is derived from the Greek word embrimmaomai, which denotes anger, outrage, emotional indignation. Troubled in V33 means agitated, stirred up, disturbed. Jesus was not stirred up and moved with indignation because Lazarus had died, as many in the church believe.
Lazarus' death was only temporary as far as Jesus was concerned - He was about to raise Lazarus up to life again and it is hardly likely that He would have been stirred up and moved to indignation against something over which He had complete control (CP V11-15, 23).
Neither would He have wept over someone to whom He was about to restore life, as the Jews thought in V36, although there is no doubt that Jesus loved Lazarus (CP V5 with V33-36). Jesus wept over unbelief in scripture, but never to share in anyone's grief over someone He raised up from the dead (CP Lu 7:11-15; 8:40-42, 49-55 with 19:28, 41-42).
When Jesus wept in Jn 11:35 He cried silently, whereas Mary and the Jews with her were wailing loudly, bewailing Lazarus' death like pagans who had no hope (CP Jn 11:19-33).
Jesus was stirred up and moved to indignation over the unbelief present, which is highlighted in His prayer to the Father in V41-42 (CP V41-42).
Martha's unbelief in V39 is highlighted by Jesus' response to her in V40 (CP V39-40). Many of the Jews who were bewailing Lazarus' death with Mary believed on Jesus as a result of Lazarus being raised up (CP V43-45).
11:35 See comments on Jn 11:33