When Jesus Wept

S

haya, a boy with severe learning disabilities, was walking past a park with his father when he saw a group of boys playing baseball. He asked his dad if he could play. The father knew that Shaya couldn't even hold a bat properly, but he called over a boy he knew named Marty and asked if Shaya could join in the game.

The game was almost over and his team was six runs behind, so Marty said, "He can play outfield and we'll try to get him up to bat in the last inning." Shaya was thrilled.

Unexpectedly, Marty's team rallied and there were two outs and the bases were loaded with the potential winning run when it was time for Shaya to bat. Still, the boys kept their word and let Shaya come to the plate.

After a first clumsy swing, a teammate held the bat with Shaya and the pitcher moved closer to lob the ball in softly. With his teammate's help Shaya hit a slow ground ball to the pitcher. Though he could have easily thrown Shaya out and ended the game, the pitcher deliberately threw it over the head of the first baseman. Everyone started yelling, "Shaya, run to first! Run to first!"

Wide-eyed with excitement, Shaya ran. The right fielder saw Shaya's joy and intentionally made another bad throw. Players on both teams shouted for Shaya to keep running. The shortstop kept him running in the right direction and to cheers of "Run home, Shaya!" Shaya got to home plate to a hero's welcome, as all 18 boys cheered him for his game-winning grand slam home run.

Shaya was deliriously happy and Shaya's father wept, knowing he'd just experienced a perfect moment in a perfect game.¹

If God is a God of love, why does
he allow such sorrow, suffering
and sadness to happen?

For many of us our heart goes out to the underdog—the handicapped child who struggles to find his way, the abandoned child who is passed from foster home to foster home, the children whose parents are killed in an auto accident, or the lonely wife whose young husband died on a distant battle field, etc., etc. And we cry when we hear about their heartbreak.

The world is filled with suffering people and the question is so often asked, if God is a God of love, why does he allow such sorrow, suffering and sadness to happen?

The reality is that God also weeps when he sees the suffering of mankind. The Gospels record how, "As he [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.'"²

I believe God still weeps over the suffering of mankind-whether our suffering is physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, the latter of which (unless resolved) ultimately causes the greatest long-term suffering of all. God especially grieves over the spiritual lost-ness of mankind. This is because our sinfulness has caused eternal separation from God and all that is loving and kind.

We are reminded of God's undying concern and eternal love for us every Easter season when we remember and celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, our Lord and our Savior.

Continued on Page Two