"With prophetic eye Christ saw the enmity of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He knew that they were premeditating His death. He knew that some of those now apparently so sympathetic would soon close against themselves the door of hope and the gates of the city of God. A scene was about to take place, in His humiliation and crucifixion, that would result in the destruction of Jerusalem, and at that time none would make lamentation for the dead. The retribution that was coming upon Jerusalem was plainly portrayed before Him. He saw Jerusalem compassed by the Roman legions. He knew that many now weeping for Lazarus would die in the siege of the city, and in their death there would be no hope. DA 534.1"
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,"
Both passages describe Jesus weeping and foreseeing the destruction of Jerusalem. The EGW passage expands on the reasons for Jesus's sorrow, connecting it to the impending doom of the city and the fate of those who were present at Lazarus's resurrection. Luke 19:41 provides the foundational image of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, which the EGW passage elaborates on.
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."
Both passages relate to Jesus's lament over Jerusalem and its impending destruction. Matthew 23:37-38 expresses Jesus's desire to protect Jerusalem and the consequences of its rejection of Him. The EGW passage echoes this theme by describing Jesus's prophetic vision of the city's destruction and the suffering of its inhabitants. The connection lies in the shared theme of Jesus's sorrow and warning about Jerusalem's fate.
"It was not only because of the scene before Him that Christ wept. The weight of the grief of ages was upon Him. He saw the terrible effects of the transgression of God's law. He saw that in the history of the world, beginning with the death of Abel, the conflict between good and evil had been unceasing. Looking down the years to come, He saw the suffering and sorrow, tears and death, that were to be the lot of men. His heart was pierced with the pain of the human family of all ages and in all lands. The woes of the sinful race were heavy upon His soul, and the fountain of His tears was broken up as He longed to relieve all their distress. DA 534.2"
"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted."
The EGW passage describes Jesus weeping due to the weight of human suffering, connecting it to the effects of sin and the history of conflict between good and evil. This aligns with Isaiah 53:4, which speaks of Jesus bearing our griefs and sorrows. The connection is thematic, focusing on Jesus' empathy and burden for humanity's suffering.
"And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground."
Both passages deal with the consequences of sin and its impact on humanity. Genesis 4:10 marks the beginning of violence and injustice, while the EGW passage reflects on the cumulative grief and suffering caused by sin throughout history. The connection is thematic, focusing on the weight of sin's consequences.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
Romans 5:12 establishes the principle that sin entered the world through one man, leading to death for all. The EGW passage directly reflects this principle by stating that Christ saw the terrible effects of the transgression of God's law, including suffering, tears, and death.
"He only wished to look upon the dead, Martha objected, saying that the body had been buried four days, and corruption had already begun its work. This statement, made before the raising of Lazarus, left no room for Christ's enemies to say that a deception had been practiced. In the past the Pharisees had circulated false statements regarding the most wonderful manifestations of the power of God. When Christ raised to life the daughter of Jairus, He had said, “The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.” Mark 5:39 . As she had been sick only a short time, and was raised immediately after death, the Pharisees declared that the child had not been dead; that Christ Himself had said she was only asleep. They had tried to make it appear that Christ could not cure disease, that there was foul play about His miracles. But in this case, none could deny that Lazarus was dead. DA 534.3"
"And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth."
Ellen White directly references Mark 5:39 in this passage.