WEEP NOT

Weep not! What strange words come from One who has the boldness to stop this very sad procession on its way to the cemetery outside of town. The woman following the bier had much to weep about. This wasn’t the first time she had made her way to this cemetery. Most husbands and fathers expect to see their sons raised up and see their grandchildren and sometimes beyond. Her husband had died an untimely death. In the middle of life with a young son, he had been taken away.

As this lady tore herself away from the grave on that previous occasion she had to think about her son and his life and this would help her in her grief. She still had hope that one day he would become her protector and provider. But now death had cruelly come into this home again and taken her son. She was left alone, having no hope. Her grief was total and complete.

The real problem was that she didn’t know this Stranger who said ‘Weep not’! She might have thought Him uncaring and unknowing. What right had He to stop the procession? But He knew all about her, her circumstances and the depth of her grief and He cared for her more than she could know. He had every right to stop the procession of death because He was death’s conqueror. The Lord of life touched the bier and commanded the young man to rise, and he did!

We have all been touched by the loss of a loved one. We know the grief, the pain, the loss that these times bring. Those who surround us may know something of our circumstances and they do care, but none can do anything about it. That is why we commend those who grieve to the ‘God of all comfort’, for only He can do something about it.

Paul exhorts us to ‘sorrow not, even as others which have no hope’, 1 Thess. 4. 13. It is only those who know Jesus who have hope and comfort at these times. For we know that He died and rose again conquering death and the grave and giving us the victory. What we know by faith today, we will shout one day: ‘O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?’, 1 Cor. 15. 55. He has conquered death forever! He will wipe away all tears! Weep not!