Why we cry at funerals

Over the last several weeks, I have seen friends and family face serious health issues, terminal diseases and the death of loved ones.  I have shed tears and tried to comfort many who are grieving the loss of health and life.  Some would ask, why do you cry?  As Christians we believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live.  (John 11:25, ESV)  We believe to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8, KJV). So why would we cry?

The answer to this question is found in 1 Corinthians 15.  Paul remind us that the immortal and imperishable kingdom of God cannot be inherited by perishable mortal beings.  Therefore, when Christ returns, those who are alive will be changed. That is God will transform our mortal bodies into immortal ones, our perishable bodies into imperishable bodies.  At the same time, the bodies of those who have died will be raised and made immortal and imperishable and their spirits that have been with Him, will be reunited with their bodies. Paul says when this happens, "then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O death, where is your victory?
 O death, where is your sting?'"

We cry because even though death has lost its fatal sting it still has a sting.  Even though it has lost its final victory it still has some temporary victories.  We cry because death still has a physical sting.  Death can cause so much physical pain that we weep over the hurt that our loved ones face and that we will face one day.  We cry because death has a relational sting.  Death separates us from the ones we love.  The pain of that separation causes us to weep.  Death cannot separate us from God but it does separate us from people we care about deeply.

Jesus understood the pain that death causes.  Even though He knew that he came to defeat death ultimately for all and temporarily for Lazarus, He wept at the tomb of His friend.  He experienced the pain we too often feel, and he cried.

The good news is that as we cry, we cry with hope.  For one day, death will lose all of its sting and will have no victory.  The sting of physical pain will be gone, for our new bodies will be free from sin, perfect and Jesus will wipe away every tear.  When he raises us up, we will have a great reunion with all of our loved ones, never to be separated again.

It is right and normal to cry now at funerals.  Don't be ashamed and certainly never think your tears are a sign of doubt.  Tears are not a lack of faith but a real faith that weep with hope.