John 11: 35 “Jesus wept” (NIV)
These tears were shed when He found out about the death of Lazarus apparently in empathy with Mary and the Jews with her and because He loved him. We are told just a little later on in the chapter about Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus.
Luke 19:41 “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it,” (NIV)
These tears were shed as He approached Jerusalem because He knew it was going to be destroyed in the not too distant future because it had not recognized His coming.
The question I pose in the title of this blog may be disturbing to some. Is Jesus still weeping is a valid question to me. I think He may be and let me tell you why.
Yes, it is true that Luke and others tell us that Jesus “was taken up into heaven.” (Luke 24:51, NIV) I know most folk seem to think heaven is a place without tears and all is well there. They/you may be right, but just give me one moment to speak directly to your heart.
The Old Testament is full of examples of God showing His emotions from extreme anger, the flood for example, to pleasure as when He first looked on His creation. We know then God is not afraid to express His emotions so to speak.
We know Jesus showed His while on earth so I think He still does as He sits with His Father and looks at the mess we make of our lives. I think He weeps for each shattered soul on this planet. This brings me to my point. His bride, the church, should be weeping right along with Him.
The world around us should not hear our condemning voices, but rather see our tear stained cheeks as we reach out to the lost lambs and seek to bring them back into the community of compassion Christ died for.
Our commission is not to fix the faults in each other, but rather to bring ourselves and help others to find the way to the foot of the cross where we all might find the grace we need.
Why do I think Jesus is weeping? Because the wounded are not being sought out and brought back to the only place a soul can find solace.
I can hear some saying now “we are doing all we can.” To which I simply say try each day to not inflict any new wounds on yourself or those around you. If we all did that eventually there would be no wounded and Jesus could stop weeping.
