God weeps
at love withheld,
at strength misused,
at children's innocence abused,
and till we change the way we love,
God weeps.
God bleeds
at anger's fist,
at trust betrayed,
at women battered and afraid,
and till we change the way we win,
God bleeds.
God cries
at hungry mouths,
at running sores,
at creatures dying without cause,
and till we change the way we care,
God cries.
God waits
for stones to melt,
for peace to seed,
for hearts to hold each other's need,
and till we understand the Christ,
God waits.
In this Holy Week we remember we worship a God that is not unfamiliar with darkness:
A God who comes close to those who mourn.
A God who comes close to those who stand outside of tombs.
Remember Mary Magdalene.
Luke’s Gospel tells us that Jesus had freed Mary Magdalene from demons and evil spirits. Which is why– while it was still dark, when Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside his tomb, looked in, saw angels and was asked, Woman, why are you weeping,
I wonder if maybe she was crying because to Jesus she wasn’t “that crazy lady” like she was to everyone else. To him, she was just Mary and when Jesus said her name, “Mary” . . . it felt like a complete sentence. And now she wondered who would ever see her as whole, who would ever call her by her real name.
I think she was crying because having felt divine love in the presence of Jesus she knew couldn't go back to living without it. So she cried saying:
They’ve taken him away and I do not know where he is–
they’ve taken love away and I do not know where it is –
they’ve taken kindness away and I do not know where it is–
they've taken my own wholeness away and I do not know where it is.
And so while it was still dark she went to his tomb thinking maybe the tomb was the end of the story.
As we contemplate Jesus crying over Jerusalem, we acknowledge weeping and crying as part of life, the tears of things: tears of frustration, tears of lament, and for so many who have been cruelly bereaved, tears of grief.
It’s hard to see through tears, but sometimes its the only way to see. Tears may be the turning point, the springs of renewal, and to know you have been wept for is to know that you are loved. ‘Jesus Wept’ is the shortest, sharpest, and most moving sentence in Scripture.
I have a God who weeps and cries for me, weeps with me. And understands me.
Malcolm Guite offers us this poem:
Jesus comes near and he beholds the city
And looks on us with tears in his eyes,
And wells of mercy, streams of love and pity
Flow from the fountain whence all things arise.
He loved us into life and longs to gather
And meet with his beloved face to face
How often has he called, a careful mother,
And wept for our refusals of his grace,
Wept for a world that, weary with its weeping,
Benumbed and stumbling, turns the other way,
Fatigued compassion is already sleeping
Whilst her worst nightmares stalk the light of day.
But we might waken yet, and face those fears,
If we could see ourselves through Jesus’ tears.
Apparently on opening ancient tombs in Palestine, many a tear-bottle has been found, which was supposed to be a repository for the tears of the mourners and was then placed in the tomb beside the one who was laid there. In many cases this may have been but a mere mockery of woe — but our heavenly Father does gather all the tears of His redeemed children. "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book!" Psalm 56:8
Not one tear is lost. Not one sorrow is unheeded. Not one grief is left unbefriended.
Paul tells us in Gethsemane, that Jesus “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him who was able to save Him from death — and was heard in that He feared." Jesus gets our sadness.Remember Ken Dodd.
My late friend Richard and I when I lived near Worthing used to go and see Ken Dodd every year he came to the pavilion on the sea front. It was the same show every year and he kept you there until ten to one in the morning. Remember his song:
Tears have been my only consolation
But tears can't mend a broken heart I must confess
Let's forgive and forget
Turn our tears of regret
Once more to tears of happiness
When Jesus entered the city with tears rolling down His cheeks, He said, “This is supposed to be the holy city, the city set on a hill, the city of peace, Jerusalem.” The world is so far away from the divine will and that’s upsetting. But Jesus gets it. He gets our times of grief and not knowing where to turn when life is so awful we can’t go on. But do you know what? At the end of this week tears will become laughter. That’s the promise of Easter. Jesus doesn’t dodge the emotions we have when life is tough but he promises transformation. Life is hard today and our task pastorally is to weep with those who weep and wait for Godto do something… but this week I’m glad to have a Jesus who bursts into tears…
Tears of Jesus! while I ponder,
Blessed comfort let me reap:
"That same Jesus" lives yonder,
Who on earth was used to weep.
Though His brow the rainbow wears,
Yet my thorny crown He shares,
Yet that loving heart divine
Throbs responsively to mine;
Not a struggling sigh can rise,
But 'tis echoed in the skies.
Blessed Jesus, in Thy sorrow
Friends and kindred passed You by;
You alone could never borrow
The support of sympathy.
When Your human heart was bursting,
When Your parched lip was thirsting,
When encompassed by the foe,
Mocking at Your bitter woe,
You, who had a heart for all,
Drank alone Your cup of gall.
Now in glory, where You dwell,
All unknown is sorrow's look;
Yet Your people's tears You count,
"Are they not within Your book?"
While my "night of weeping" lasts,
Before the morn its brightness casts,
My blessed portion may it be,
That You weep, Lord, with me;
And one day, with heart and voice,
In Your joy, may I rejoice!
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