Lesson #16 - Weeping With One Another

Terry Siverd
01/12/20 - Sun AM

LESSON #16 – WEEPING WITH ONE ANOTHER

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT BRING TEARS?

The word “cry" is used in various ways in the New Testament.

~ Sometimes it simply means to “cry out" in making a proclamation.

John the baptizer was a voice crying in the wilderness / Mt.3:3

cf. Acts 7:60 / (Stephen) cried out, ‘Lord do not hold this sin against them.

~ Some cries are motivated by anger as with the mob (Lk.23:21 / they kept crying out, ‘Crucify Him!, Crucify Him!)

~ Js.5:1 speaks of the cries of the rich who would soon be weeping and howling because of God’s judgments against them

Their crying would be brought on by the cries of the laborers who were unfairly treated (Js.5:4).

~ Some cries are for help and vindication (Rev.6:10);

~ Some cries accompany service and suffering (Acts 20:19 / serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials);

~ Some cries are for joy (Mk.11:9 / Those…were crying out, ‘Hosanna!, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord);

~ Some crying stems from opposition - - I now tell you weeping, they are enemies of the cross / Philp.3:18;

~ Some cries are from fear - - Seeing the wind and waves, Peter cried out, “Lord, save me! / Mt.14:30;

~ Some cries are associated with mourning and repentance (Mt.26:75);

~ Some cries are from heartache and loss (Acts 8:2 & 9:39  and  Mk.9:24).

~ Some crying derives from love and affection (Lk.7:38:& 44;  Acts 20:37  and  2Tim.1:4).

~ Some tears originate from a genuine concern for the well-being of others:

Be on the alert, remembering that...for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish you with tears (Acts 20:31).

Note also 2Cor.2:4 - - for out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears.

THE FAMILY OF GOD IS A FELLOWSHIP OF TEARS

 Rom.12:15 / Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep .

~ Do we care so deeply for one-another that it brings tears to our eyes, in times of both sorrow and joy?

When was the last time you cried for and/or with another?

~ Are not tears typically BORN OUT OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS?

~ Is crying together a natural expression for those who are family?

After the death of her husband, a mother was challenged by her daughter, 'Mother, you didn't really love Daddy. You never cried.'  'Oh, but darling, I did cry. Many a night I cried myself to sleep.  I never wanted to break down in front of you.'

'Mother, I'm sorry I misjudged you.  But I wish you had cried with me, and not alone'.

~ See Hymn #744 - - God's Family - - noting vs.2 with the chorus.

 P On Deck?  Leading One Another