"Woman, why are you weeping?" (April 4, 2010 - sunrise)
By Rev. Steve Bagnall

There was great commotion among the followers of Jesus – they couldn’t find Him. On Friday, just before the sun had set they laid His dead body in this tomb. He had to be here, but He wasn’t. Mary Magdalene was flabbergasted. She had watched Jesus die. She had seen Him buried and the stone rolled into place. He had to be here. But He wasn’t.

She hurries to Peter and John. Maybe they knew what was going on. They were Jesus’ closest friends; maybe they could explain it, and help Mary find Jesus.

But the disciples are no help. They don’t even fully believe Mary’s story, and run to see for themselves. But when they arrived, first John and then Peter, they were just as confused as Mary had been – maybe more so. Jesus was gone, but the burial cloths were there. Where was Jesus? In confusion and sorrow they went home to try to figure it all out.

But Mary, who followed the disciples back to the tomb, stood weeping in her sorrow. What could she do now? She looked again, to assure her that her eyes hadn’t deceived her. The body was still gone, but the tomb wasn’t empty – there were two angels there. They ask her what she wants and she tells them, “I can’t find my Lord. I need Him but He isn’t here.”

Then another voice, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She says, “I can’t find Jesus. Have you moved His body? I’ll take it out of your way.”

But then the confusion and sorrow and pain is pierced, chased away completely with one word – her name. “Mary!” But it’s not the word that strikes her – it’s the voice. She knows it. It’s impossible, but it’s true. The man in front of her is Jesus. She has found the Lord. She was looking in the wrong place. He wasn’t in the grave. He wasn’t in her suffering and worry. He was alive.

Jesus had faced everything on the cross – all Mary’s shame and sin, all her fear and sorrow. He had shouldered her brokenness and He had died for it. He had endured the pains of Hell on that cross, to pay for her sin, to wipe it away. And here He was alive, the Victor, stronger than her sin and damnation, stronger that her troubles, stronger even than death!

Jesus was alive and He called her by name, He welcomed her, He loved her. She was safe. What could she fear now? Her protector could defeat even death. His forgiveness removed her sin and here He was, in the flesh to give her eternal life.

Sometimes, no matter how hard we search, we can’t find Jesus. Not physically. But sometimes, in our troubles we look for Him and all we see is more trouble. Where is He to help? Sometimes our sorrow is so great, perhaps at the grave of another loved one, and we look for Jesus to take our pain away, and we can’t find Him. Where is He? We pray and pray for what we need and He doesn’t answer. Does He not hear? Does He not care? Where is my Lord?

Or when we look within ourselves; see the sin, the darkness that hides in our hearts. You know them all. You feel their guilt, and you know it was your sin that sent Jesus to the grave, your sin that caused God to forsake Him, your sin that killed the Lord of life. You beg for mercy, plead for forgiveness, but you don’t always feel it. And the sins keep coming, no matter how hard you try. Where’s Jesus? We see our sins that killed Him; maybe He’s still dead.

Why is your heart weeping? What sadness eats at your heart, what emptiness? What prayer do you keep pouring out to God? What sins lie on your heart? Where have you betrayed Him, in falsehood and selfishness and greed and lust and lies and anger and hatred and harsh words? You‘ve come this morning. Why? Why are you looking for Jesus? Man, Woman, why are you weeping?

Friend, put your weeping and fear aside. Your Lord is not in the tomb, He is alive, risen and victorious for you, too. He stands here and He calls to you. Your name, spoken with His in Baptism, rings from His lips, “Come to Me. I forgive you.” Bring your sorrow and worries and lay them aside. Jesus is arisen. He hears your prayers, He cares about them and He is answering them. He is providing and will provide what you need to go where He has planned to take you, along the path He knows is best for you. Your Lord has overcome death for you; there is no need He cannot provide for. Fear not; believe.

And your sin, the sin that tears at your heart, the sin you have committed brazenly, without sorrow until this moment and the sin that you fight daily and seem unable to overcome, He has defeated it all, every one, completely. They dragged Him to the grave, but He crushed them there and they will never rise again.

You seek Jesus. He is here. He has heard your confession and He called your name and forgave you. He speaks to you now. And soon, very soon, in the Holy Supper, he shows you His wounds in His body and blood, testimony that He has defeated your sin, assurance that He does not abandon you in your sufferings, but helps you through them, proof that His life is yours forever. Because He lives, you and I live also and we will live. Even after we die we will live and on the Last Day these bodies will rise, too, perfect and glorious forever, the souls and bodies of all who trust Him for forgiveness.

Don’t be afraid; Jesus is alive. He is here. For you.
Alleluia, Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia. Amen.