Although you might wonder for a moment when you see tears flowing down a woman’s face, most of us take it as normal. Yes, it may even make us a little uncomfortable because we know something is wrong, but a weeping woman seems pretty ordinary. It is typical for the simple reason that women in general experience higher levels of emotional stimulation – and are prone to not only talk about what they are thinking and feeling, but also to demonstrate these feelings with their tears, facial expressions, hand gestures, and body language – than men. And it’s alright. Men, by and large, just find it easier to be less expressive, however there a few that defy the odds.
I read the story of Michal, Saul’s daughter who helped David escape when the king sought to kill him (1 Samuel 19:8-12) After his escape, David undergoes a strange kind of amnesic attack and he ‘forgets’ that he has a wife at home. He proceeds to marry two more; Abigail and Ahinoam (1 Samuel 25:39b-43). Meanwhile, Michal his wife, is given to Paltiel as a wife! This new husband adores Michal to the point that when David returns to reclaim her – more like a trophy than a wife (2 Samuel 3:14), Paltiel cannot bear the thought of losing her, so much so that he follows, weeping (2 Samuel 3:16)! Oh, the love he had for her!
Besides Paltiel, we see Jacob weeping out aloud when he saw Rachel (Genesis 29:9-11). This is a man that was overcome by emotion. Talk about love at first sight! Even though these men wept for the women that they loved, their weeping had no lasting power.
Have you ever seen a strong man weeping? There’s one who wept for his bride and the sound of his weeping is still felt today. The power of a weeping husband can be seen through Jesus Christ. He wept with loud cries and tears offering up prayers and supplications (Hebrews 5:7). Why? He looked on man’s wretchedness and had compassion. He was in anguish, yet had mercy for He had to fulfill His purpose on this earth.
On His final trip to Jerusalem soon before His crucifixion, Jesus comes close to the city and weeps over it Luke 19:41-44. Jerusalem is lost and Jesus is in sorrow over the future of this city (Luke 13:34). What was that future? In AD 70, just under four decades from the time He wept over it, over one million of Jerusalem’s inhabitants perished in one of the most ghastly sieges in recorded history, and other thousands sold into servitude that no one would buy any more slaves.
Jesus wept (John 11:35). Many are quick to point out that this is the shortest verse in the Bible, but aren’t able to give you reasons for the Master’s weeping. The death of Lazarus wasn’t the reason Jesus wept. He wept because when He saw the pain felt by the bereaved, this deeply moved and troubled Him in spirit (John 11:33). Weep with those who weep, says Romans 12:15b and so He did.
Our Savior wept (and still weeps) for all the lost souls – He is disturbed by our blinded eyes. For this reason, He suffered in obedience and was made perfect; therefore became the source of eternal salvation to everyone who obeys Him (Hebrews 5:8-9). This is the power of a weeping Husband: He moves us to fall in love with Him. His weeping opens the eyes of our understanding to see that His death on the cross was not in vain. Like Peter, it should drive us to our knees in repentance (Matthew 26:75). This weeping has power to redeem and transform. The weeping Husband is the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in Him will live even if he dies (John 11:25). And the bride of Christ said, Amen!
