Tears of sympathy

(Octavius Winslow, “The Tears of Christ”)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

Jesus wept! John 11:35

The Creator of all worlds,
the Author of all beings,
Upholder of the universe–
raining tears of human woe and sympathy upon a grave!

Oh, there lives not a being in the universe who can enter into our bereavements with the sympathy, the support, and the soothing of Christ!

They were tears of sympathy. Christ’s heart was not only touched with His own personal affliction; but it was also deeply touched–for the sorrow of others.
He wept because the mourning sisters wept.
And He mingled His tears with theirs.

This is true sympathy, “weeping with those who weep,” making their sorrow our own. How really our Lord does this with His people. So completely is He our Surety–that He takes our sins, infirmities, trials and sorrows upon Himself, as if they were all and entirely His own. Our sins were so completely laid upon Him–that not one remains charged to the account of those who believe in Jesus.

And our present griefs are so entirely absorbed in Him, that,
softened by His love,
soothed by His sympathy,
supported by His grace–
trial is welcome,
the affliction is sweet, and
rod of a Father’s chastening, buds and blossoms into delectable fruit!

Bereaved mourner, the sympathy of Christ is yours!

The same Savior who wept at the grave of Bethany–now shares your grief and joins your tears. Deem not your sorrow as isolated, or that your tears are forbidden or unseen. Because You have a merciful and faithful High Priest who is touched with your present calamity.

There exists no sympathy . . . Tears of sympathy
so real,
intelligent,
deep,
tender,
sanctifying–
as Christ’s sympathy!

And if your heavenly Father has seen it wise and good to remove from you the spring of human pity–it is but that He may draw you closer beneath the wing of Jesus’ compassion, presence, and love.

O child of sorrow, will not this suffice–that you possess Christ’s sympathy: immeasurable and  exhaustless as the ocean; exquisite and changeless as His being! Yield your heart to His rich compassion!

The sigh that bursts in secret from my heart, is not secret to Him. The tear that is my food day and night and drops unperceived and unknown–is known and remembered by Him!

“You keep track of all my sorrows.
And have collected all my tears in Your bottle.
You have recorded each one in Your book.” Psalm 56:8

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses!” Hebrews 4:14-15

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