Exploring John 11:1-48 Through a Primary and Secondary Emotion Framework
In our journey of faith and relationships, we often encounter moments where we struggle to fully engage with our emotions—both within ourselves and with others. The story of Lazarus in John 11:1-48 provides a profound example of how Jesus models emotional engagement with God and those around Him. By exploring this passage through a primary and secondary emotion framework, we can gain deeper insight into what it means to be emotionally engaged like Jesus.
Understanding Primary and Secondary Emotions
Primary emotions are our immediate, instinctive responses to events. These include joy, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. They are universal and deeply tied to our experiences as human beings. Secondary emotions, on the other hand, are shaped by our thoughts, beliefs, and social context. These include feelings like guilt, shame, pride, embarrassment, and hope.
When we observe Jesus in John 11, we see His ability to be deeply attuned to the emotions of others and to express His own emotions freely. He does not dismiss, suppress, or deny feelings; rather, He engages with them fully in the presence of others and God.
Naming and Feeling the Emotions in John 11:1-48
As we walk through this passage, we can identify the emotions experienced by various characters and reflect on what this teaches us about emotional engagement.
1. Mary and Martha’s Grief and Disappointment (John 11:1-32)
When their brother Lazarus falls ill, Mary and Martha send word to Jesus, hoping He will come immediately. However, Jesus delayed, and Lazarus died. Upon His arrival, Martha expresses her grief and disappointment, saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21).
- Primary Emotion: Deep sadness and grief over their brother’s death.
- Secondary Emotion: Disappointment and confusion—Why didn’t Jesus come sooner?
- Reflection: We, too, experience disappointment when God does not act as we expect. Jesus does not rebuke Martha for her feelings; instead, He engages with her pain, offering words of hope and truth (“I am the resurrection and the life” – John 11:25).
2. Jesus’ Compassion and Sorrow (John 11:33-36)
When Jesus sees Mary and others weeping, He is deeply moved and troubled. In one of the most profound moments of Scripture, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
- Primary Emotion: Sadness and grief—Jesus mourns the pain and loss experienced by those He loves.
- Secondary Emotion: Compassion—Jesus is not indifferent to suffering but enters into it with us.
- Reflection: This moment reveals Jesus’ heart. His emotions are not detached from human pain; instead, He engages fully. When we grieve, we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus grieves with us.
3. The Crowds’ Mixed Responses (John 11:37-44)
Some in the crowd express doubt: “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37). Jesus, once more deeply moved, goes to the tomb and calls Lazarus forth.
- Primary Emotion: Disgust or surprise/amazement that Jesus did not fit their expectation.
- Secondary Emotion: Some may feel jealousy or resentment, skepticism, confusion and questioning why Jesus performed miracles for some but not for others.
- Reflection: Our human tendency is to doubt when we do not understand God’s ways. Yet Jesus demonstrates that trust in God’s timing and power leads to resurrection and renewal.
4. The Religious Leaders’ Fear and Control (John 11:45-48)
After witnessing the miracle, some Pharisees respond with fear: “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (John 11:48).
- Primary Emotion: Fear—They worry about losing control and status.
- Secondary Emotion: Anger—Their resistance to Jesus is rooted in self-preservation rather than faith.
- Reflection: Fear of losing control can keep us from seeing the truth of who Jesus is. When we resist emotional engagement, we risk hardening our hearts to God’s presence.
The Biblical Importance of Emotional Engagement
John 11 teaches us several important truths about emotional engagement:
- God Created Emotions to Be Engaged and Expressed – Jesus models full emotional expression, showing that emotions are not weaknesses but part of our humanity.
- Emotional Engagement Deepens Our Faith – Martha’s conversation with Jesus leads to a declaration of faith (“Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ” – John 11:27). Engaging with our emotions before God can strengthen our trust in Him.
- Compassion Leads to Connection – Jesus’ tears reveal that true engagement with others requires stepping into their pain. We are called to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).
- Fear and Control Can Hinder Our Relationship with God – The Pharisees’ fear prevented them from seeing the miracle before them. When we let fear dictate our responses, we risk missing God’s work in our lives.
Living Out Emotional Engagement Like Jesus
If we desire to be emotionally engaged with God and one another like Jesus, we must:
- Acknowledge our emotions before God, as Mary and Martha did.
- Embrace the emotions of others with compassion, as Jesus did.
- Surrender our fears and need for control to trust in God’s power and love.
The grace of Jesus invites us into a life of emotional honesty, connection, and faith. Just as He stood at the tomb of Lazarus, deeply moved yet full of hope, He stands with us in our own moments of grief and joy, inviting us to engage fully—both with Him and with one another.
Let us, like Jesus, be present, vulnerable, and compassionate in our emotional journeys, knowing that through Him, we find both understanding and resurrection hope.