Friday, July 15, 2011

Silent Weeping

31, 102:
The number of verses in the King James Bible.

The shortest verse in the Bible? “Jesus wept.” John 11:35

Interesting to me how those two words encapsulate so much more than this brief statistic presents. Consider this reflection on what it means to weep...

“Out of all the creatures in God’s creation, only people cry. Tears often say what words cannot. When Jesus cried outside the tomb of his friend Lazarus, Jesus’ humanity cried out as loudly as his divinity would moments later when Jesus raised his friend from the dead. Jesus’ tears were different from those of many mourners surrounding him. Those people were wailing in accordance with Jewish custom. This tradition allowed community to fulfill a duty publicly and loudly lament personal tragedy more so than it allowed those who were grieving a personal release of emotion.

The Greek word used here for ‘wept’ is found nowhere else in Scripture. It means ‘to cry silently’.

Jesus didn’t cry for the benefit of others. He didn’t cry to make a point or to teach a lesson. He cried because his heart was broken.

God’s heart breaks because he has compassion for those he created. That means he does not take your pain, sorrow, grief, disappointment, or even physical death lightly. God knows he can bring good out of tragedy and enjoy eternal life with you after your days on earth are through, just as Jesus knew he could raise Lazarus from the dead. That doesn’t stop God from entering into your present sorrow with you, from reaching out in compassion to bring comfort when you need it most.

When you cry, cry out to him.

Jesus was not ashamed to express his emotions and let others see him cry. Follow his example of honest emotional vulnerability, while inviting him to help dry your tears from the inside out.”

From The 100 Most Important Bible Verses, pg. 144, W Publishing Group, Thomas Nelson, Inc.

2 comments:

  1. thank you for sharing these beautiful words! what a comforting thought for my friday afternoon. i hope you have a lovely weekend! (just got back from the best shopping trip to lulu ever - thanks again for that present!!!)

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  2. First with Lazarus and then at The Gethsemane.

    And I guess that's why the Gethsemane episode is so wrenching. The silent weeping adds a new dimension to the loss, to the sorrow, to the despair... as if. now in that limit moment, only God Can listen to us - you have no one and nowhere to turn to; so the weeping and the peace that follows only stay between you and your Creator.

    Lovely reflection Marita. May God be always present in your life to Enjoy your laughter and dry your tears.

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