More on Tears

Just because the tears come, doesn't mean the joy of the Lord has gone away. God made us emotional beings and one of the ways we show that emotion is through tears. So, it's ok.

The shortest verse in the Bible is about Jesus and His tears. John 11:35 "Then Jesus wept." In previous verses it says that Jesus was angry in His spirit after seeing and hearing the unbelief around Him. In fact, it says in verse 33 that Jesus was "deeply troubled." Even as they walk along to the grave of Lazarus, "...Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb..." I think there is a blog here for later.

Jesus isn't the only person that wept, we can read of many who have shed tears. Psalm 69, David, the King of all Israel wept, many times! Another King, Hezekiah cried, Isa. 38:3. Now we come to the fishermen. We've known many fishermen, loggers, construction guys and the entire 25 years we lived in Alaska I never saw one fisherman, logger or builder shed a tear. Doesn't mean they didn't!

Peter, the great fisher of men spent three and a half years with Jesus, but in the end when he was tested, he failed because he denied his friend, the Son of God, Jesus. Matthew 26:75 "Peter wept bitterly." What bitter tears to have because of betrayal. God wasn't through with Peter though. God is the Author and Finisher of our faith and He faithfully did that job in Peter's life and now we have the epistles and life of Peter to be blessed by.

Others, the remaining disciples wept at the death of Jesus, Mk. 16:10, Mary washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, Luke 7:44. Paul serving the Lord with many tears, Acts 20:19. In Acts 20:31 because of Paul's constant watch care over the church, he cried night and day. Toward the end of his journey here on earth, Paul wrote that he had many tears for the church at Corinth because of the love he had for them.

So while we are here on earth, we will have tears. If tears don't come out of your eyes, they may have gotten stuck at the top of your throat. It's ok. One of these days we will be released from tears. But, in the meantime they are important enough to God that He stores them all in a bottle.

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Rev.21:3-4 NLT