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基督徒生活中的哀傷

信徒也哭泣

閱讀阿吉斯·費爾南多（Ajith Fernando）的新近佳作《喜樂的堅守：在起起落落的事工中保持精神》 （Crossway，2024）時，我看到了這句關於哀傷主題的引言：

哀傷可以成為治癒痛苦的一步。如果我們在上帝面前表達悲傷和哭泣，發生在我們身上的怨恨就可以消除。 約瑟經歷了極度的痛苦。 他的兄弟密謀毀掉他；他忠於主人拒絕與其妻子發生性關係卻被送進監獄；曾經接受過他幫助的獄友忘記了他。 但他沒有表現出任何怨恨。當約瑟相信兄弟的背叛也出於神的主權時，我們看到他對上帝的信心，而這給了他寬恕別人的自由（創 50:20）。

費爾南多接著說：「創世記 43-50 章記載約瑟哭了八次」。 「哭泣」這個詞在約瑟的生活中佔據如此主導的地位令我大大震驚。  顯然，他比大多數人經歷了更多的傷痛。 聖經記載約瑟哭泣的每一個例子值得我們思考。

哭泣的約瑟

第一個例子發生在大飢荒時期，那時約瑟的兄弟們第一次來到埃及購買糧食（創42:24）。約瑟立即認出他們，然後以莫須有的間諜指控將他們扣留。 約瑟隨後指示他們中的一人留下作為人質， 直到他們將最小的弟弟帶到埃及。 兄弟們對這個提議深感悲傷，並承認這是要他們為當年加害約瑟「血債血償」。當聽到這些時，約瑟的心被刺痛並哭泣起來。

第二次哭泣發生在約瑟遇見弟弟便雅憫時（創 43:30）。 這對約瑟來說一定是個美妙的祝福，以至於他激動不已。多年的孤獨之後， 他終於見到同父同母的兄弟（雅各和拉結所生的第二個兒子）。

第三次，約瑟的哭聲如此之大，以至於不只普通的埃及人，就連法老全家都聽見了（創45:2）！ 這件事發生在約瑟把一個占卜用的銀杯藏進便雅憫的袋子裡之後。當猶大懇求他憐憫， 約瑟終於向兄弟們透露了自己的身份。

根據描述，約瑟與兄弟們和解之後不止哭了一次，而是兩次（創45:14-15）。 首先他為便雅憫， 然後為其他兄弟，對於多年來悲傷破碎的關係而哭泣。 這對約瑟而言一定是種宣洩，因為他與這些將他賣身為奴並讓他忍受多年深重苦難的家人團聚了。

當他與父親以色列團聚時，約瑟再度哭泣（創 46:29）。 顯然，他們一定經歷了情感上的重逢。 他們沒想到會再次相見。這是一個多麼歡樂的時刻以致約瑟淚流滿面。

幾個章節後，約瑟為父親的離世而悲傷痛哭（創50:1）。每個信徒都會在今世的死亡面前感到哀傷。在耶穌再度來臨之前，沒有人能免於死亡這個可怕的現實。

在故事的結尾，當兄弟們告訴他父親的臨終願望是讓他寬恕兄弟們的罪過（創世記 50:17）時，約瑟也哭了。 約瑟為何哭泣沒有完全清晰的答案。他是否仍對兄弟們當年的所作所為心懷怨恨？ 還是為他們未能完全接收他的赦免而心生悲戚？這很難確定。 但足夠清晰的是，約瑟相信這一切背後都有神的主權旨意。

約瑟對他們說：「你們不要害怕，我豈能代替上帝？從前你們是要加害於我，但上帝有祂的美意，祂藉此保全許多人的性命，正如今日的光景。 因此，你們不要害怕，我會照顧你們和你們的兒女」（創 50:19-21）。

哭泣的耶穌

約瑟並不是唯一哭泣的人；新約記載主耶穌基督也曾三次哭泣。

第一次出現在約翰福音第11章第35節。當耶穌來到他朋友拉撒路的墓前時，我們被告知「耶穌哭了」。 值得 注意的是，見證這一切的猶太人說：「看他是多麼愛他」（約 11:36）。 愛因爲失去一個人而悲傷。愛之愈深，所失愈多。

第二次是在接近耶路撒冷時，耶穌為耶城哭泣（路 19:41）。耶穌對以色列人民的處境感到悲傷，因為他們沒有認識到神眷顧的時間。 他們不知曉神為他們「帶來平安的事」！也就是說，他們不相信耶穌是應許中的彌賽亞。後來耶路撒冷被夷為平地，沒有留下兩塊疊在一起的石頭。

第三次也是最後一次的參考文獻出於希伯來書第5章第7節。耶穌在此以麥基洗德模式的大祭司出現。就像上帝那位偉大而神祕的僕人一樣，耶穌「大聲呼喊、流淚禱告、祈求」。他為百姓代禱，求耶和華施與憐憫和恩典。

不再哭泣的那日

雖然哭泣是聖經中一個重要的主題，我們仍然期待有一天不再哭泣。 《啟示錄》包含了整本聖經中最寶貴的應許之一。

我聽見從寶座中傳來響亮的聲音說：「看啊！上帝的居所設立在人間，祂要與人同住。他們要成為祂的子民，上帝要親自與他們同在，作他們的上帝。 上帝要擦乾他們所有的眼淚，再沒有死亡、憂傷、哭泣和痛苦，因為以前的事都已成過去。」（啟 21:3-4）

那是所有信徒都盼望和嚮往的偉大的終結日。那個時候不再有哭泣！不僅如此，神也會親自拭去我們眼中每一滴眼淚。全能的主會親自給我們慰藉。

所以，是的，我們現在因為很多理由而哭泣。但即使哀痛，我們也並非沒有希望。 正如從約瑟和耶穌的生活中看到，痛苦或磨難不必決定我們的身份，苦澀和沮喪也不必成為我們的標籤。因為我們有一位慈愛的天父，祂看到我們的痛苦，安慰我們的傷痛，並且有一天將成全所有。

——馬克·鮑威爾

The Place of Lament in the Christian Life

Believers Weep too

While reading Ajith Fernando’s excellent new book, Joyful Perseverance: Staying Fresh in the Ups and Downs of Ministry(Crossway, 2024), I came across this quote on the theme of lament:

Lament can be a step in the healing of our sorrowing. Expressing our sorrow and weeping can help us dispel bitterness over what has happened to us, if the weeping is done in the presence of God. Joseph endured intensely bitter experiences. His brothers plotted to destroy him. He was sent to prison for being faithful to his master and refusing to have sexual relations with his master’s wife. The fellow prisoner whom Joseph helped forgot about him. Yet he shows no sign of bitterness. We see his faith in God when he acknowledges God’s sovereignty in his brothers’ treachery, which gave Jospeh freedom to forgive them (Gen. 50:20).

Fernando then went on to observe, “Genesis 43-50 records Jospeh weeping eight times.” I was struck by how dominant the term of ‘weeping’ was in Joseph’s life. Obviously, he experienced more grief than most. But it’s worth considering each of the instances Scripture records Joseph as weeping.

Joseph Weeps

The first instance occurs when Joseph’s brothers first come to Egypt to buy grain during the severe famine which had occurred (i.e. Gen. 42:24). Joseph immediately recognises who they are, and has them put into custody on trumped up allegations that they are spies. Jospeh then instructs them to leave one of their number behind as a guarantee until they bring their youngest brother to him. The brothers are grief stricken by the proposal and acknowledge that this is a “reckoning for the blood” for what they had done to Joseph. When he hears them say this, he is cut to the heart and weeps.

The second instance of Joseph weeping occurs when he meets his younger brother Benjamin (Gen. 43:30). This must have been a wonderful blessing to Joseph, so much so that he was overwhelmed with emotion. After all those years of isolation, here is a family member of his own flesh and blood (the second son born of Jacob and Rachel).

On the third occasion, Joseph’s weeping was so loud that not only the Egyptians, but even the household of Pharoah heard it! (Gen. 45:2) This occurs after Joseph has hidden a silver cup of divination in Benjamin’s sack for the journey home. Judah implores Joseph for mercy and as a result Joseph reveals to his brothers who he is.

After having reconciled with his brothers, Joseph is described as weeping not just once, but twice (Gen. 45:14-15). First he weeps over Benjamin, and then he weeps over the rest of his brothers in an outpouring of grief over all the years of broken relationships. This must have been a cathartic experience for Joseph as he was reunited with family members who had sold him into slavery, causing him to endure years of severe hardship.

Jacob weeps again when he is reunited with his father Israel (Gen. 46:29). Obviously, this must have been an emotional reunion for both of them. They would not have expected to have seen one another again. It was such a joyous occasion that Joseph broke down in tears.

Sadly, Joseph weeps over his father’s death just a few chapters later (Gen. 50:1) All believers grieve over the presence of death in this world, and no one is immune this side of the resurrection from the grave’s horrible reality.

Joseph finally weeps when at the end of the book his brothers send Joseph a message that their father’s dying wish was that he forgive his brothers’ transgression (Gen. 50:17). It’s not exactly clear why Joseph weeps here. Is it because he still harboured some kind of bitterness towards them for what they had done? Or was it because he was distressed that they hadn’t fully received his pardon? It is difficult to be certain. What is clear though is that Joseph trusted God’s sovereign purpose behind it all.

But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that may people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones (Gen. 50:19-20).

Weeping and Jesus

Joseph is not the only one who weeps; the New Testament records that the Lord Jesus Christ also wept on three occasions.

The first is John 11:35 where in coming to the tomb of his friend Lazarus we’re told, “Jesus wept”. Significantly, the Jews who witnessed this said, “See how he loved him” (John 11:36). Love grieves over the loss of another person. And the deeper the love, the more significant the loss.

The second occasion of Jesus’ weeping is found where, in approaching the city of Jerusalem, he wept over it (Luke 19:41). Jesus grieves over the state of the people of Israel for they have not recognised the time of his coming. They have not known about the “things which make for peace!” namely, faith in himself as the promised Messiah. As a result, Jerusalem would be razed to the ground with no stone left upon another.

And the third and final reference is located in Hebrews 5:7. Jesus is presented here as the great high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Like that great and mysterious servant of God, Jesus offers up “prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears”. He intercedes on behalf of the people, pleading with the LORD for mercy and grace.

The Day when Weeping Ceases

While weeping is a significant theme in the Bible, we also look forward to a day when weeping will be no more. The book of Revelation contains one of the most precious promises in all of Scripture.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Rev. 21:3-4)

That’s the great and final day in which all believers are looking forward to and long. A time when weeping will be no more! Not only will that be the case, but God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes. We will be comforted by the LORD God Almighty Himself.

So, yes, we weep now. There are plenty of reasons for doing so. But even though we mourn we do not do so without hope. For as we see in the lives of Joseph and Jesus, we need not be defined by our pain or suffering. We need not be characterised by bitterness and despondency because we have a loving Father in heaven who sees our pain, comforts us in our sorrows, and will one day make everything right.

– Mark Powell, translation by Sonia Liang