Gospel of Matthew-post by QuineHappy is the one who mourns (Matthew 5:4).This second beattitude proverb first as puzzling as the first. Why would one in mourning be characterized as “happy?” The key to the puzzle is found in understanding the reasons why we “mourn.”
There are a lot of reasons for shedding tears. The child of God is not exempt from weeping. But the Lord promises, “blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Who doesn’t shed tears of bereavement? In John 11 Mary and Martha wept over the death of their beloved brother Lazarus. On his way to the grave, Jesus met Mary and the others who mourned. Jesus wept. Jesus understands the tears of loss of a loved one or friend.
In Psalm 42 crying can be heard. “As the dear pants after the water brooks, so my soul longs after thee. My soul thirsts for God; for the living God. When shall I came and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night. They continually say to me, ‘where is your God?’” Forsaken by men, pursued by adversaries, the psalmist cried out to God in his loneliness. He shed the tears of being alone.
In Paul’s encouraging note to Timothy, he reflects upon the last time they were together. “I remember you in my prayers night and day; greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy.” (2 Tim 1:3-4) Timothy shed tears because of defeat and discouragement. Tides of opposition to the truth he presented arose, discouragement and despair had taken hold of him, and Timothy gave way to tears of discouragement.
In Jeremiah 9 we see the prophet overcome with tears by being burdened by the gravity of his message, and the sufferings of his people. These were tears of anxiety for the people he ministered to. Paul shed the same tears as he explained the importance of ministry to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. We can be so concerned for others that we weep for them.
In Mark 9 tears flowed down the face of a father, whose son had been possessed by a demon. He turns to Christ, pleads earnestly for Him to help. These were the tears of desperation and earnestness.
Tears may also be a sign of devotion. As recorded in Luke 7 a woman came into the Pharisee’s house where Jesus reclined and brought an expensive alabaster box of ointment. She fell at Jesus’ feet weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears and wife them with her hair. The Pharisees challenged Jesus why He would allow himself to receive adoration from such a sinful woman. He explained that it was because she had been forgiven much. The forgiveness she had received produced a devotion that expressed itself not only in the gift of perfume, but express through the precious gift of tears.
There are no tears so hot as the tears poured as a consequence of sin. Peter experienced the death of close friends, and he wept. Peter knew what it was like to be lonely, and wept the tears of loneliness. Peter knew what it was like to be concerned about those he lead, and wept for his people. But the greatest tears of anguish the mighty Peter shed were the tears of his sin in rejecting Jesus.
In Luke 22 the Lord predicted that before the cock would crow twice Peter would deny him three times. After his denial the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Peter then remembered the word of the Lord. Peter went out, and wept bitterly. No sorrow is as deep as that which comes to the child of God when he injures the love of the One who loved him unto His own death. There is no sorrow equal to the grief of injured love.
In all these tears we have a promise. Even those who have injured the love of God by sin can be assured. “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” The last time Peter saw the Lord alive, he had felt His convicting glance. That glance burned itself into Peter’s heart, and Peter mourned. There was no comfort until the Lord appeared to him on the day of resurrection. Peter found comfort when the Lord forgave Him of his sin, and confirmed his love toward Peter. Peter found comfort.
The book of Revelation confirms that we will find comfort when we turn to Jesus. In Rev 7:6 we read of a happy future, where “they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Again in Rev 21:4-5, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.”
