Tears

I’m a firm believer there are several different types of criers. Here are the four most common (as if I’m an expert):
 
Crier 1 – The Wiper: This crier is wiping their eyes before the tears even come out their eyes because they don’t want someone to see them cry. They are constantly grabbing something to use to absorb all their tears.
 
Crier 2 – The Talker: This person tries to talk about everything going on in their mind while they are crying. If they weren’t cry it would be like a 3-minute talk, but once you add tears it turns into a 15-minute-long sentence.
 
Crier 3 – The Non-Wiper: This person’s goal is to see how wet they can get their shirt from their tears. They don’t use their hands, a tissue, or anything to wipe their tears. By the time they are done crying, their shirt looks like they ran inside from a light rain.
 
Crier 4 – The Wailer: This person is bi-lingual, and you didn’t even know it. When tears start so does their second language. In this moment they have forgotten English (or whatever their primary language is) and just start wailing! There is nothing you can do to stop it but give it time!
 
We’ve all probably experienced at least one of these criers, if not all of them.
 
But when was the last time you cried? Seriously, think about it. In your mind, go back to the last time tears falling down your face.
 
What was it like? Why were you crying? Where were you? Who was with you?
 
In John 11 Lazarus dies. He was the brother of Martha and Mary as well as a good friend to Jesus. In my first post on John 11 we see that Jesus’ Delay Ins’t His Denial, but Jesus got there after Lazarus died.
 
In my second post on John 11 we see that Martha prays an Even Now prayer. She was frustrated and disappointed in Jesus, but Even Now she was going to trust Him because she knew He was the Son of God.
 
Now, in John 11, we are at the place in the story where Jesus gets moved to tears.
 
Mary leaves her house, with some Jews following her, to meet Jesus and Martha. When she gets there “she fell at His feet saying to Him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’”[1]
 
Jesus saw what was happening and the Scriptures say He was “deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled”[2]
 
Jesus then asks where his friend was buried. The people tell Jesus to come with them and see. Then one of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture, “Jesus wept.”[3]
 
I want to share four encouraging truths about Jesus and our tears.
 
(1) Jesus sees our tears.
No matter where you are, Jesus sees your tears and knows why you have tears. You’re not alone in your crying. Jesus is right there with you.
 
(2) Jesus is touched by our tears.
Jesus is moved by your tears. Jesus is fully God and fully man. He sees as well has understands our emotions. There isn’t an emotion we can feel that He Himself has felt before. Our tears touch His heart.
 
(3) Jesus remembers our tears.
Jesus does see and identify with our tears to just forget. Jesus knows us and remembers us – especially our tears. When His children are hurting He remembers.
 
(4) Jesus acts to dry our tears.
Lastly, Jesus doesn’t waste our tears. He uses them to grow us and teach, but after, He will always try to dry our tears in His timing. This is where we can get frustrated. We want our tears to be dried immediately, but Jesus knows how to use them best.
 
Have confidence and be encouraged that Jesus sees your tears, is touched by your tears, remembers your tears, and acts to dry your tears.


Photo By: @cliffphotographs


[1] John 11:32b
[2] John 11:33
[3] John 11:34