'n Interpretasie van die emosies van Jesus in Johannes 11:33-38

English: This study is an attempt at determining the best interpretation of the emotions of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus. It is done by means of a study of the Wirkungsgeschichte of John 11:33-38, to determine the different interpretations of theologians through the ages. By applying certain criteria to these interpretations, an attempt was made to determine the best interpretation of the emotions of Jesus, with special reference to the words ἐμβριμάομαι, ἐτάραξεν ἑαυτόν and ἐδάκρυσεν. From the Wirkungsgeschichte (Chapter 2) was deduced that the emotions of Jesus in John 11:33-38 were interpreted in generally three ways, namely as anger and agitation, or as distress (he was deeply moved), or as a combination of emotions, which could include all of the above. The reasons for interpreting these emotions in a specific way, were often also coloured by the context and world perspective of the interpreters. One example in this regard is the Stoic influence that can be detected in the interpretations of Diadochus of Photiki, Cyril of Alexandria and Augustine of Hippo. The reasons for the emotions of Jesus, as seen by theologians, included the following: - Grief and anger because of the misery caused by sin and wrath, aimed directly against Satan and death; - Empathy towards those in distress and grief; - Anger caused by the unbelief and lack of understanding of the mourners, of who he was and what he came to do on earth (especially the unbelief, hypocrisy and antagonism of “the Jews”); - The realization of the immanence of his “hour” that implied his uplifting on the cross; - Indignation towards Mary and Martha for their reproach that he did not come earlier. In Chapter 3, these reasons were weighed against the following criteria to determine the best interpretation for the emotions of Jesus in John 11:33-38: - The way in which the Judean and Hellenistic world thought about emotions; - the meanings that Greek concepts like ἐμβριμήαομαι, ἐτάραξεν ἑαυτόν and ἐδάκρυσεν normally took on in the New Testament and other Greek literature of the first century; - how the portrayal of the emotions of Jesus fits into the narrative of John 11 and the theology of the Gospel of John. In Chapter 4, the conclusion was reached that the best interpretation of the emotions of Jesus according to the way in which these concepts were used in the Old Testament, New Testament and extra-Biblical literature, are as follows: - ἐμβριμήαομαι points towards anger; - ἐτάραξεν ἑαυτόν means to be stirred up (disturbed) or to experience an inner shuddering which could be visible on the outside; - ἐδάκρυσεν means to weep silent tears, possibly out of grief and empathy with those that are grieving. The following conclusions were made with respect to the reasons for Jesus’ emotions: - A deep compassion and empathy for those who are grieving, as is seen by his tears at the grave (John 11:35); - Anger and agitation over the unbelief of the people surrounding the grave (including the sisters of the deceased and his disciples) and especially over the rejection, unbelief and hostility of the Jews; - A deep disturbance because he was already experiencing the cross – a disturbance that cannot be seen apart from his love for his Father and for the world, and which reaches a culmination point in John 12:27 with the realization that his “hour” has come.