Weeping

<<crying>>

Normally this refers to tears of grief over the loss of someone or something precious to an individual. This is a natural emotional reaction – even Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus (Jn 11:35). Over time, the intensity of grief will subside for although “Weeping may remain for a night, joy comes in the morning” (Ps 30:5). Jesus wept over the unresponsiveness of the Israelites to His message and

Have I wept before the cross of Christ?

Paul wept over the sin of those who live as enemies of the cross of Christ (Lk 13:34,35, 19:41,42; Phil 3:18). Peter wept tears of repentance after denying Christ, and tears from a very grateful, forgiven sinner washed the feet of Jesus (Mt 26:75; Lk 7:37-48). Has the reality of the sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf and the vileness of my sin ever brought me to tears – not just an emotional reaction but rather a life transforming encounter resulting in “walking in newness” of life?

Tragedy and death are unavoidable aspects of life. As believers we all members of the body of Christ and when one part suffers we all suffer and so in compassion for them we weep with those who weep (Rom 12:10,15; 1 Cor 12:26). Relational people have a greater bonding or involvement in the lives of others and so are more emotionally intertwined and have a greater disposition to empathise. However, we should all walk humbly and in relationship with others, sympathising with them as Jesus does with us, sharing in their struggles and trials of life. We can come with confidence before the throne of grace knowing Jesus also walked this route (2 Cor 1:3,4; Heb 4:15,16).

There will be times of grief in this life, but a time is coming for Christians when all tears will be wiped away (Rev 7:17, 21:4). However, the Bible also talks of ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’, depicting torment in hell – the punishment of eternal damnation for the sins of those who remain unsaved. This anguish of heart will not reduce over time(Mt 8:12, 13:42,50, 22:13, 24:51, 25:30; Mk 9:47,48; Lk 13:28). As many people have invested in false security or impotent gods, which can’t provide any form of salvation, this is not a weeping of repentance but of loss, a total despair at what can never be reversed (Rev 18:19). However it still is ‘the day of salvation’, which is only found in Jesus, so get right with God if you are not already a believer (Act 4:12; 2 Cor 6:2).