Woman, Why Are You Weeping?

John tells us that Mary returned to the tomb of Jesus early on Sunday morning to complete the burial preparations for His body. What she saw as she approached shocked her. The stone had been rolled back from the mouth of the burial chamber! The body of the Lord was gone! Who could have done such a thing? She runs back to share this troubling news with the other followers of Jesus.

Later, she returns to the tomb and emotion begins to overwhelm her. The whirlwind events of the past couple of days had taken their toll. Jesus had been arrested, charged with blasphemy, and condemned to death. She had stood at a distance and witnessed the horror of the crucifixion. Perhaps she heard him utter his final anguished cry and draw his last labored breath. To now experience the new pain of the body of Jesus being moved or taken was more than she could bear.

With tears filling her eyes, she stooped to take one more look into the tomb. To her amazement, she sees two angels who ask: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Through her sobs, she exposes her pain over the disappearance of Jesus’ body. She turns to see someone she supposes to be the gardener and he asks her the same question: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Why was she weeping?!! She could have rattled off a dozen very good reasons for her anguish and tears! But all of those good reasons evaporated when the resurrected Lord revealed Himself to her. Her tears and despair quickly give way to joy and hope.

That, my friends, is the power of the resurrection. The shackles of death couldn’t hold our Savior. The deep darkness of the crucifixion was shattered by the brilliant light of victory. Sure, our world is still full of times that bring pain. Like Mary, we can be blinded by our own tears. But it is precisely at those times when we need to be reminded that we serve a risen Lord. Why are we weeping? Good question!

God loves you!
Mike