Were there tears shed in Heaven as God’s only son arrived in Jerusalem?  

“Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David!  Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Praise God in highest heaven!” The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.  And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”  Matthew 21:8-11 (NLT)

Father, your mysteries are magnificent and your gifts too numerous to count.  As your beloved son rode that donkey into the city of his death, were tears being shed in Heaven?  Father, why did you give us tears?  You tell us in Genesis 1:27 that we are created in your image?  In Genesis 6:6 you tell us that you mourn the wickedness of humanity.  John 11:33-35 tells us that Jesus was weeping with those mourning the death of Lazarus, with 11:35 simply, completely and profoundly stating “Jesus wept.”

“You keep track of all my sorrows.  You have collected all my tears in your bottle.  You have recorded each one in your book.”  Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

As I write this I was amazed to learn scientists have found that tears release toxins associated with grief.  I also learned that only humans, formed in your image, have the ability to weep and release tears, associated with emotional or spiritual events.  Your other animals have tears to water their eyes but only those of us formed in your image the ability to cry emotionally.

So Father, on this day of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, were tears being shed in Heaven?  Was the knowledge or what was to come so overwhelming that tears flowed from your angels?  Were they tears of sadness that Jesus was to be unjustly killed at the behest of the mob, who on this day were celebrating his entry into the city?  Were they tears of joy that humanity, your beloved children so broken and far from you, would in a few short days have a direct pathway to you?  Were the angels mourning the suffering that was coming for your son or did they see the emptiness in your eyes caused by the separation from your earthly children?  Or Father, did they see in you the understanding that the forthcoming death of your son would bring life allowing Heaven to be populated with your children formerly separated from you by unreconciled sin?

“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

Father, today and every day we worship you.  Today we celebrate your beautiful, sinless, perfect son who willingly rode that donkey carrying him to his death.  Today, Father, I can write, pray, talk and seek you directly because your sinless son rode over those palms laid on that dusty street.  Thank you, Lord, for Palm Sunday.