When nobody is found, John is overwhelmed. This tough man of God, who has undergone great persecution, breaks down in tears.
Do we love God’s plan and purposes? Are these the greatest things that we know, without which our lives and all human history are meaningless, and the glory of God lies hidden? If we have set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth, then our love will be strong and we will feel as John does that the will of God must come to pass. But if we find all our satisfaction in passing things then our spiritual feelings will be deadened.