Questions for Life #5: Why are you Weeping?

[Preached March 23, 2008; Based on John 20: 1-18]

Words of Meditation ––     “Tears represent the heart, the spirit, and the soul of a person. To put a lock and key on your emotions is to bury part of your Christlikeness!” (Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment, Volume II, 346)

The last time we were together, we were remembering the events of Good Friday beginning with the events taking place in the Garden of Gethsemane on Thursday night where Jesus fought the greatest battle of his life. The struggle was so intense that he sweat drops of blood.

Can’t you just hear his prayer: "If it be possible, let this cup pass from me." But there in Gethsemane, our Lord surrendered his will to the will of the Father: "Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done." That’s tough to do in a life and death situation.

Jesus knew The Cross awaited him. In that day, most people saw the cross as a means of execution and thus it was viewed as a symbol of Christ’s greatest humiliation – to die the death of a criminal. However, knowing what we know now, the Cross was actually the symbol of his ultimate glory... as Christ chose to give his life for us!

Let me take a quick detour.  How do you view the crosses and burdens of your life? Do you see them and wish they were gone... or do you see them as the pathway to your ultimate glory? Is God helping you mature through the challenges you face?

So, in today’s scripture lesson, we are again in a garden. Try to put yourself in Mary's place. She was brokenhearted by her Lord's death. She arrived in that place anxious and distraught by her grief. Her dreams, the dreams of the disciples, and indeed, the dreams of all Israel for a Messiah were shattered to pieces.
 
In addition to this, when she arrived at the garden, the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, and the body of Jesus had been taken away. The disciples who were with Mary at the tomb that early morning went back into the city, because scripture says, "They did not know that Jesus must rise again from the dead."

Was it woman's intuition, or perhaps that Mary was willing to show her grief in a more open way than the others... that she didn't return home immediately as did the men? She stood outside the tomb weeping. She just couldn't believe it, so she took another look into the tomb.

Now, I could really get sidetracked here for quite a while, but I’ll resist the temptation. However, let me just comment that everything from here on was dependent on the fact that Mary was willing to live with her grief and as she looked for Jesus; she was willing to take a second look!  Let me ask those of you who would not characterize your spiritual life as fulfilling... and would not say that you have just “fallen in love with Jesus”; let me just ask you... Have you taken that second look?

What I mean is that when we were children many of us attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. We learned that:

·         Jesus loves the little children

·         Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so... and maybe even that...

·         The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the book for me

However, our knowledge and love for Jesus Christ have not developed since we were children. So, have you taken a second look in Jesus’ direction?  It’s a good question. I promised I wouldn’t linger, so let me just say, it is worth giving Jesus a second look, because many of life’s challenges and dilemmas require more than a child’s knowledge and experience! Now, that we’re adults, an adult understanding would really help!

Well, back to Mary and her second glance into Jesus’ tomb. This time she saw two angels sitting on the stone where the body of Jesus had been laying, and they asked her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"

What pain is in her response: "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

And then it happened. She turned around and there he was - but she didn't know it was Jesus. He said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping; whom are you seeking?"

 

The “why are you weeping” question must have been pretty important – first, the angel... and now Jesus asking this question. Let's focus on two lessons from Mary that we need to learn in order to get the Easter message.

1. She didn't recognize Jesus because of her tears. She was crying so much that she was blinded. It happens to us, doesn't it? Our tears often blind us to what's going on around us. We miss the lessons life is trying to teach us because we are so preoccupied with our own pain and grief, our disappointment and defeat – not that they are inconsequential. Our tears reveal that the soil of our heart is extremely well prepared and fertile for growth.
   
   However, sometimes our tears are there because we center on our loss. We don't put our situation into perspective. Our loneliness and loss are intense and we weep for ourselves; we can be blinded by our tears.
   
   I read a story about a woman named Leigh Hobson, whose aunt who had raised her had died.  It was painful and she had done a lot of crying.

One morning, Leigh's six-year-old daughter, Katy, witnessing her mother's grief, painted her a picture and gave it to her mom and said, "I want you to feel better."

That night when Leigh was tucking Katy into bed she thanked her and told her that her gift did make her feel better. Then she added, "But Katy, I want you to know that Mommy may cry a lot more, because I loved Ola so much."

"But Mommy," Katy said, "I'm afraid you'll turn into a tear."

"Well," said Leigh, "if I turned into a tear, would you wipe me up?"

Katy said "No, I'd put you into my eye."

Is that beautiful or what? That's what Jesus wants to do with our tears. He wants to take them; he doesn't want us to be blinded by them. He doesn't want our suffering to be wasted. He wants us to learn our lessons and produce a harvest in the fertile soil of our hearts.  Mary didn't recognize Jesus because of her tears. I pray God would help us not be blinded by our tears, but to offer our tears to Christ that we might see more clearly.

2. But there's another reason why Mary did not recognize Jesus: She was facing in the wrong direction. She was focusing on the tomb. We tend to do the same thing, to focus on the past or our defeat, our loss. As long as we are preoccupied with our failure, we will not know victory.
   
   Maxie Dunnam shared about correspondence he had with a prisoner. She wrote:

"Thank you... for your prayers. I had to write again and give you my testimony for the Lord. I am a mother of six. I got into trouble writing bad checks. When I heard they had a warrant out for me, I gave myself up. My husband of 17 years left... and divorced me. I didn't fight him over the divorce or over the custody of the children. I tried two times in the next three and a half months... to take my own life...

Though I can certainly understand it, it is obvious that she was focusing on the past; she was looking in the wrong direction. Listen as she continues:

“...but God had other plans for me. Both times I failed (in my suicide efforts) so with no one around, I got down on my knees and prayed:                                                                              

"Lord, I've always believed in you, and I can go no deeper in sorrow than I am. Please put your loving arms around me and give me your understanding and love and forgive me for all I have done...

And she continued...

“(Jesus) came into that cell, even bars cannot keep him out, and gave me a new heart. I am now serving three and a half years in this women's correctional institution. I serve our Lord daily. I wake up and talk to him, read The Upper Room, and then go through the day seeking to share him with others. Then at night I go to sleep after reading my Bible and talking with him."

Do you see? She turned from her past when she turned to the Lord... and what about us? We will miss Jesus this Easter if we keep our eyes on the tomb - if we concentrate on our past, or our loss. Easter calls us to look in the direction of new life, and new possibility. Our pain is not inconsequential, but may it open the door to a new future!

So, Jesus asked Mary: “Woman, why are you weeping?” and we see that - her tears blinded her eyes and she was facing in the wrong direction.

"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." And then was perhaps the sweetest sounding word ever spoken to her... Jesus said, “Mary.” He said her name as only Jesus could say it. Have you ever heard Jesus say your name? Steve... Claudia... Mary – there’s nothing like it! To hear it is to know you’re totally loved and totally understood. How else can you explain the change that came upon her? She was in despair and the next thing you know...

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18) Now, perhaps you don’t want to be the world’s most outgoing witness for Christ, but when you’ve intersected with Jesus, life changes for the better!

Finally, let’s not leave this scripture without seeing one more thing. We passed it way back in verses 6-7: Then Simon Peter, who was behind (John), arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. (John 20: 6-7)

What’s so important about that?  Well, if God can do this, he can do anything! There’s nothing God can’t do! And, with all that power and potential, what I really love about Jesus is that he’s so personal! We are never beyond his reach. He knows where we are and who we are – he knows us through and through and will work with us however we allow him to work – even if it’s only through our tears when we’re looking the wrong direction... and we hear him call our name!

The proof of the Resurrection of Christ is not an empty tomb, but an Easter people - people whose lives have been transformed and who love and follow Jesus. Oh, may that be all of us!

Are you in some tomb this morning? Are you looking back at some defeat or some loss?  God is calling your name and has a new life for you. Don’t be too stubborn to take a second look or to turn around. God’s plan for you is good. 

Benediction:  2 Corinthians 13: 4Although he was weak when he was nailed to the cross, he now lives by the power of God. We are weak, just as Christ was. But you will see that we will live by the power of God, just as Christ does.  If God can do this, He can do anything!