Tears

If children are asked to quote a memory verse for Bible class, I bet John 11:35 is used by someone. It’s a favorite of those who forgot they were supposed to memorize a verse. It’s the shortest verse in the English language – “Jesus wept.” But, why did Jesus cry? He had come to Bethany after his friend, Lazarus had died. Mary had run out to meet him, crying with such deep sorrow. Even though Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus, His human side cried in sympathetic sorrow with those who were crying. I often find tears in my eyes whenever someone around me is crying. I guess I don’t like folks crying alone either. Crying is the shedding of tears in response to pain or an emotional state. There are times when we laugh until we cry while at other times, we cry until we can’t cry anymore. Babies cry to let Mom and Dad know that they have needs. Toddlers cry when they fall down in pain while teenagers cry when their hearts are broken. Adults usually cry when there is a loss. It may be at the loss of a loved one, such as the women who mourned at the death of Dorcus (Acts 9:36-41). We cry at the loss of a job, or the loss of – well, just things not being the same anymore. We tend to not like change. Crying can work as an escape valve and release stress. It’s not a bad thing to cry.

When Paul and the Ephesian elders parted ways in Miletus, they wept sore for they loved each other so much and knew that they probably wouldn’t see each other again in this life. (Acts 20:37) Peter went out and wept when he realized that Jesus knew that he had denied Him three times. (John 18:15-27) He had abandoned the Lord. The Psalmist said, “In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.” (Psalm 18:6) Yes, we, too, cry out to the Lord in distress. One of the most comforting parts about heaven is the fact that “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) It’s such a personal thing to have someone wipe away your tears. I can only imagine God reaching out to wipe away mine.

While we shed tears on this earth, there will be “no tears in heaven.” Isn’t that wonderful! God is so good! God Bless, Courtney