July 14, 2023

Tears of God

“Jesus wept.”  John 11:35 (NASB)

            I remember after my father died in 1989. I didn’t cry. I don’t know exactly why. After about three months, one the tears hit me. I burst into tears when I least expected it; in front of someone. I experienced the realization of loss that day. Perhaps it was the shock of the event now being over, which finally were realized. I don’t know. The day I started crying, I don’t remember who saw me in tears, but they asked me what happened. I had no idea at the time. I think it all just caught up with me. When a person cries, no one knows what thoughts the person is having. I have heard some well-wishing people say, “I know what you are going through.” I often think “No, you don’t.” I am certain what a person experiences in that moment will never be known by others, no matter how hard they might try. This is because no one can know exactly what a person is thinking. They aren’t God. The Jews made this mistake as well when they saw Jesus weeping. They thought Jesus wept over His friend’s death.

            “Jesus wept,” is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it conveys something very important about our God’s incarnation. “Wept” is a rare word (dakruo)[1] used only here in the New Testament. The word “wept” used here is not loud wailing (as the professional mourners), but has the connotation of silently bursting into tears. Jesus’s tears came from His most inner part. He was expressing His love for Lazarus, and also what sin had performed in the fallen world. This tells us Jesus’ tears showed His humanity (as covered in yesterday’s devotion), and His sorrow at sin which condemned the world. As the Jews saw His tears, they didn’t understand His true thoughts at the time. They couldn’t have. His love for his friend, and sorrow of what sin had performed in the world were not of hopelessness or despair like theirs. Jesus is hope. He also had the power to resurrect. They would come to know The Resurrection.

            The death of those I have known or loved is an awful hard thing sometimes. Sometimes it seems unbearable. When I reflect back to our daughter’s passing, I thought to myself: She won’t ever be able to experience having children (and she wanted a family). She won’t be able to hold the keys to her first home. She won’t be able to buy her first new car. She won't be able to have the things I thought she deserved (like her college education she was so close to finishing). If anyone deserved anything in life (which we all don’t), it was her. She was one of the best Christians I ever have known. This comes from a parent who wants the best for their child. The memories of her were cut too short. I have no time to create new memories. I can’t just pick up a phone and call. I can’t take new photos, or experience new things together. As I look those who have died, it also helps to reaffirm my beliefs. If I go around like the Jews in their grief, I set myself backward in my journey of faith. But I have hope. He is Jesus Christ. Jesus knows my heart when I shed tears for missing my loved ones. He experienced it Himself, but He also knew sin had destroyed life and it grieved Him too. He also knew one day He would defeat death in it’s tracks, never to threaten us again. So today, know this: when you die you arrive instantaneously with Christ. You also get to see and spend time with those who have gone to heaven before you. It will be a beautiful reunion, full of joy and peace! All because of Jesus!

[1] Thomas, R. L. (1998). In New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek dictionaries : updated edition. Foundation Publications, Inc.