Jesus Wept.

Nº 400

Think of the cross and let your tears flow. But you must wipe those tears away, for Christ is not in the grave. - C.H. Spurgeon

Isaiah painted Jesus’ painful portrait. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3a) Every Easter has its Good Friday. The joy and celebration of Easter morning flowed from the pain and agony of Good Friday.

We know of three times when Jesus wept. He wept over the death of his friend Lazarus (John 11:35). Death is an enemy that takes loved ones and unleashes deep waves of pain. He wept over Jerusalem as He approached the city for His final earthly visit (Luke 19:41). His impending rejection would lead to devastating consequences: personal, national, and eternal. And He wept in the Garden of Gethsemane the night He was betrayed (Hebrews 5:7). His contemplation of the gruesome events that awaited Him, and the anticipation of the weight of our sin was excruciating.

Two of those painful expressions occurred within days of Easter’s joy.

Whether the pain of loss, the agony of rejection, or the anticipation of an impending torment, we all have painful moments of tears. But Good Fridays have their Easters. The weeping of Good Friday was swallowed up with the Joy of Easter. Trust the Victor of Easter to wipe away every tear.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin