WEEPING
Notes
Transcript
2021 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
2021 EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
IN VERSE 11 WE FIND MARY WEEPING OUTSIDE OF THE TOMB.
MERE DAYS BEFORE JESUS HAD STOOD IN FRONT OF THE TOMB OF A FRIEND.
LAZARUS HAD BEEN DEAD FOR FOUR DAYS. WHEN HE ARRIVES HE STANDS IN FRONT OF THE TOMB, AND WE HAVE THE SHORTEST VERSE IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES:
35 Jesus wept.
THEN DAYS LATER AS HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM AND WAS WELCOMED WITH PALM LEAVES AND PRAISE:
41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it,
TO FIND MARY WEEPING IS NO SURPRISE. THE QUESTION “WHY AREN’T YOU WEEPING?” SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE THE WRONG QUESTION. “WHY AREN’T YOU WEEPING?” FEELS MORE APPROPRIATE.
THE THING IS, JESUS HAD PREPARED THEM FOR THIS MOMENT. IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO HIS CRUCIFIXION JESUS HAD REPEATEDLY TAUGHT THEM THAT HE WOULD NEED TO DIE.
IN JOHN 16 HE TELLS THEM “IN A WHILE YOU WILL NOT SEE ME, AND AFTER A WHILE YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN.” THEY WONDER WHAT HE COULD MEAN.
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.
21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
THIS WORLD CAN BE BRUTAL – BUT IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL!
5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.