“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled” (John 11:33 NKJ).
The basic Greek word embrimaomai (em-brim-ah’-om-ahee), translated groaned in this verse, only appears five times in the New Testament. Two of those times are found in this passage (John 11:33,38). It is a very difficult word to pronounce, but interesting in its definition.
In the original New Testament, the word has to do with anger and indignation.
Jesus was angry that Satan had stolen Lazarus away by death. He counteracted the theft of this life by crying out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” (v. 43 NKJ). He was not going to allow the enemy to get away with this murder of one of His closest friends.
Jesus was angry that sickness could strike a person with such malignant force that he would die a horrible death. The groan of our Lord is an indicator of how He feels about sickness. To Jesus, disease is no friend, it is a malignant foe.
Jesus was also filled with indignation when He met with hypocrisy. Some of the people who came out of Jerusalem to weep and mourn with Mary and Martha went back into town and turned Him in to the Pharisees. Their hypocrisy made Him indignant.
I also believe Jesus in His humanity groaned because of the phileo love He had for Lazarus. He really cared for him as a friend. He cares for us the same way.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.