One of the most precious scriptures, so very short but eternally deep, is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” Many feel that Jesus wept, not because of the death of Lazarus, but rather the unbelief of those He loved that did not understand what He was really telling them. Jesus experienced the same frustrations that we experience; and He expressed them in the same way we do.
By Joanne Putnam
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Have you ever wondered why you cry? Have you ever felt like you would never quit crying? Or are you one of those people who wishes they could cry?
Tears have always been important to God, so much so, that people felt that they should save them in the hope that someday they would formally present them to their maker.
In many of the ancient Jewish tombs, little glass vials have been found. They are approximately one inch wide and three to five inches long. Research has shown that these little bottles, sometimes made of alabaster, once held the tears of loved ones who mourned over their death, as well as their own tears, which were to be presented to God as proof of their worship and sacrifice to Him.
Tears are quite interesting. They are made of a salt-water solution and come from little ducts tucked into the corner of the eye. Tears continually bathe the cornea. They help to clear it of foreign particles such as dust and hairs and keep it from drying out, which would result in blindness. Though mostly a salt solution, tears contain substances that fight bacteria, and proteins that help keep the eye immune to infection. You know from, experience that if you get something in your eye, it immediately closes and tears begin to flow. Tears wash out the foreign object.
Tears do more than bring physical healing to our eyes. Tears bring release, healing and freedom to our soul, if we would just allow them to! Tears come when we show compassion, love, joy and sorrow. We shed them in happy times and in sad times. Sadly, there are times in our lives when we are extremely heavy hearted; yet we hold back from God our true feelings, failing to release them to Him. We refuse to give our tears to Him.
All too often we see men, who from a child, have been told, “Boys don’t cry, only sissies cry.” So they hold feelings and hurts so tightly on the inside that it turns into bitterness and hardness of heart that can ultimately destroy them.
In Psalm 56: 8 & 9, we find David calling out to God. “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” David was asking God to put his tears in a bottle and record them in His book.
Hezekiah received a word from the Lord as a result of his tears. “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee…” (2 Kings 20:5).
Isaiah, seeking the Lord in 16:9 says, “Therefore, will I bewail with the weeping… I will water thee with tears….”
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