Why are you Weeping?

May 1, 2024

Preacher: Andrew Love

Series: John’s Gospel

Passage: John 20:14

Service Type: Sunday Morning

Introduction

Women are more prone to tears
- In the Scriptures you find many examples of women weeping - examples
- There are men who weep - examples of Simon and Jesus
You might be wondering what verse we are looking at
- Looking at questions in John's Gospel
- Woman, why are you weeping? (v13, 15)
Overview:
- What our tears show
- Speaking to our tears
- How our tears can give way to joy and peace

When Jesus wept at the grave of Lazarus - the people said 'see how He loved him'
- Mary was weeping - sobbing
See how Mary Magdalene loved Jesus
- One of the last at the cross
- Last to leave the tomb - but the first to arrive
- The first to discover the tomb was empty
- The first person to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ
- She went to (further) anoint Jesus
Her tears reveal how much she loved Jesus
- Why did she love Jesus?
  - She had a wicked and wretched life
  - She was possessed by seven spirits (not mental illness)
  - She was delivered
  - She was forgiven and cleansed
  - He turned her life around
- When she found the tomb empty she was devestated
  - She sobbed and wept
  - She was crying funeral tears
    - We need to cry and weep
    - Jesus wept when Jerusalem rejected Him
What do our tears show?
- Self-pity?
- Rage?
- Disappointment?
- Quarrels?
- Repentance?
She loves Jesus - v13
- They have taken away her Lord
- Not just "the" Lord (v2) but "my" Lord (v13)
- Is Jesus your Lord?
Do you weep because you feel a distance from Jesus?
- What do your tears reveal this morning?

Much sorrow is not good for us
- Continual crying
- Example of the Psalmist
- Our tears can distort how we see things
  - We concentrate on our situation and lose sight of God
We need the question 'why are you weeping?'
- Interesting the question comes twice
We need to be objective and not just trust our feelings
- Mary's reaction to the angel
  - The guards fled
  - Her emotions have so overcome her she treats the angels as ordinary men
- We need to consider the situation
  - Are we unmoved by the content of a church service?
  - Do we ask questions?
  - We need to look up to Christ on the throne
- Her problem was doubt and unbelief
  - Jesus had plainly said He would rise from the dead on the third day
  - She could not see due to doubt and unbelief
  - Does doubt and unbelief prevent us from seeing?

Jesus deals with Mary tenderly
Jesus allows her to speak
- People need to vent their feelings
- Jesus asks a question so she can open up
- People need to share feelings and be able to open up
Jesus speaks her name
- Just one word
- Not 'why didn't you believe?'
- In hearing this, she understands
  - Her heart is flooded with joy and peace
Jesus gives her hope
- He explains what will happen
- Jesus gives us hope
Do you hear Jesus Christ speaking to you this morning?
- Does He have a word for you?
  - Repent
  - Forgiven
  - Peace
    - The disciples needed to hear from the woman and from Jesus
    - Peace (20:19, 21)
    - Do you need to let the peace of God reign in your heart? - 2 Thess 3:16
  - Your name
We may know sorrow and weeping but then comes joy
- Jesus is our sabbath rest and peace
- Jesus appeared on Sunday - the new day of the Lord
- We must rest on Sunday
- The old Sabbath was passing away to be replaced with the Sunday rest