Woman, Why Do You Weep?

by Lynn Mosher
(Louisville, KY)

Mary Magdalene...the epitome of a true, committed servant, yet she found herself in a heart-wrenching plight. Because she followed the Lord so closely, her service took her to the scene of the cross, standing at a distance with the other women, looking on the crucifixion. It then propelled her to His burial site, observing where His linen-wrapped body was laid. She and the other women with her went home to prepare the burial spices and fragrant oils, resting the next day on the Sabbath.

After the Sabbath, in the chilly dampness of the early morning hours, Mary Magdalene groped her way through the dark city streets of Jerusalem. Carrying only a small oil lamp to light her way, she was joined by Joanna, Salome, and Mary, the mother of James. They left the city, finding their way to the dew-moistened garden where Jesus had been buried.

The first glints of sunlight peeked over the horizon as the women drew near the tomb. Dressed in their mourning apparel and blurry-eyed from their tears of grief, they entered the garden, carrying the spices to anoint Jesus’ body.

As they approached the tomb, the ground began to tremble from a great earthquake as an angel appeared and rolled back the large stone covering the tomb’s entrance. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.” (Matt. 28:5-7a NKJV)

Terrified, they ran to get Peter and John and returned with them to the tomb. In fear and out of breath, the men entered, frantically surveying the surroundings until their eyes came to rest on the stone slab, where only the death cloths laid.

Seeing that the body of Jesus was not there, the disciples rushed back to tell the others.

While the other women waited outside the tomb, Mary Magdalene stooped down to look inside, in search of her Saviour. Finding the tomb abandoned and with tears streaming down her cheeks, she turned around to leave and encountered a man, who asked, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15a NKJV)

She assumed he was the gardener. “‘Sir,’ she said, ‘if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.’” (John 20:15b NLT)

“Mary!” He whispered compassionately.

She gasped, recognizing a familiar voice. “Rabboni!” Falling at His feet and clutching resurrection life, she began to worship Him.

Jesus then said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” (John 20:17 NKJV)

Today, Jesus offers the same hope of resurrection life as on that first Easter morn, awaiting our grasp.

I have been a Mary Magdalene. . .a follower of the Lord yet finding myself in a dark tomb of a circumstance. I wandered around for relentless hours, with stinging tears spilling down my cheeks, weeping in pain, sorrow, and loss. I searched the tomb of the world and found it empty, emptied of dreams, hopes, and purposes. In my gloomy circumstance, I felt lost and abandoned by God.

My recognition of eternal restoration came when I walked out of that tomb of darkness into Easter’s garden of light and recognized my Saviour, standing there waiting for me. Compassionately whispering my name, He said, “Do not wear the grave-clothes stained with the tears of grief. Come into My garden of beauty and I will give you the robe of Easter’s resurrection gladness. Take My Hand and let Me lead you along the path to life everlasting. I will never leave you nor forsake you. I gave My life that you might live eternally with Me.”

Have you ever been a Mary Magdalene? Despite the depth of your commitment to following Christ, have you found yourself weeping over a situation in your life where Christ seemed to be absent?

Just as Mary Magdalene walked out of the tomb and met Christ in an unexpected way, so your Easter experience comes when you meet Him just outside the cave of your despair. He will be there to comfort you and ask, “Why do you weep? Whom do you seek?” It is then that you will recognize and embrace resurrection life.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 NKJV)

If you believe this and have found Him, weep no more. May you experience the power of resurrection, embracing the risen life in a new and deeper way this Easter season.