“THE MESSAGE OF TEARS”

“I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears” (Psalm 6:6).

                 Often times we may observe a person with tears running down their cheeks and ask ourselves, “What reason do they have to cry?”  “What is the message of their tears?”  Tears are unique to the humans of God’s creation;  we are the only species on earth that God created with tear ducts, so there is definitely a message behind the tears.

            The chemist would say that tears are a combination of sodium chloride, phosphate of lime, mucus and water.  The pastor would say that tears are the bleeding of a broken heart.  The police officer would suggest that tears are a sign of weakness or guilt.

             There is much said about tears in the Bible.  Our Savior only left two things on earth that were a part of Himself—His tears and His blood stains.  His tears revealed that His heart was touched with the feeling of our infirmities and that He was glad to bear our grief and carry our sorrows.  His blood bears testimony to His great desire to cleanse us from iniquity and sin.  In Gethsemane, the Savior prayed with strong crying and tears.

A queen’s tears are mentioned in Esther 8:3.  Here, this lovely, spiritual minded Jewish queen presented her request to the king for the preservation of her people, the Jews.  The prayer was effective; the king was moved; the petition was granted.  She made request for her people at the risk of her own life.  These tears revealed her earnestness, her devotion, her purpose of heart. . . .  Praying with tears is usually effective.

A sinner’s tears move our hearts as we read Luke 7:38.  here a sinful woman is seen kneeling at the feet of Jesus.  She washed His feet with her tears and dried them with the hairs of her head.  We can only imagine the amount of tears this dear lady shed to accomplish the washing of Jesus’ feet.  What words she heard from the Savior that broke her heart, we really aren’t sure, but she knew that she needed the Savior more than any thing.  Her heart was troubled and, oh, how she wanted peace!  She humbled herself and Jesus gave her hope.  She brought her alabaster box (the hope chest of oriental girls) filled with costly, fragrant ointment and anointed (rubbed or massaged) the feet of the Savior and kissed them.  Christ saw those tears.  They revealed her true repentance.

            Have you been to the Savior’s feet with your tears?  Have you ever really come to Him for what only He can give?  Next week:  Part 2.