Where is the King? He is Risen
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Empty Tomb Troubled Heart
Empty Tomb Troubled Heart
On the morning of the third day Mary Magdalene along with a few other ladies rose before the sun was in the sky gathered some spices and sat out to the tomb of Jesus. The past week had been full of so much excitement and grief. Just a week ago Jesus entered the city and all of Jerusalem praised his as King. But by midweek Jesus had been arrested on false allegations that he was trying to over throw Rome. He was tried in a court of opinion not facts, and condemned to die by the same people that praised him just days before.
You could image the emotional roller coaster his disciples and followers were experiencing. The walk to the tomb that morning must have been a time of great reflection for each one. In life we all experience times of great confusion. I have had moments in my life that left me feeling challenged and alone. I am sure many of you this morning have had times that one minute life was grand and in a blink of an eye tragedy struck. The emotions, the pain, the grief, all just broke your spirits. This is the image of the ladies I want you to have as they were walking to the tomb of Jesus. It is the same emotional pain everyone here would have, if you lost someone that you knew made life worth living.
Just as they arrived at the tomb Mary notices that the stone had been rolled away. The tomb now was empty and the first thought in Mary mind is that the Roman Government or the Jewish leaders had stolen the body of Jesus. Mary takes off to go and tell the disciples that the Lord body is not in the tomb. The empty tomb and a trouble heart for all that had happen over the last few days must have been like an abyss of darkness. However, you would have thought that they would understand what really had happen. Jesus had told them that he must suffer and die and be raised from the dead. However, the disciples did not understand because they needed proof of his resurrection. They all came running and when Peter arrived he went in to the tomb only to find the linen cloths that covered the body of Jesus, but the face cloth was neatly placed in a position by itself.
This should have struck a cord of joy but instead the disciples went back to their homes heads held low and spirits crushed. They were expecting something more but found instead an empty tomb and their hearts troubled with grief.
Appearance of the Resurrected Lord
Appearance of the Resurrected Lord
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
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. 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.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
John 20:1-
The one who came that morning to finish the burial preparations stood outside the empty tomb weeping her desire was to show Jesus the Lord of all proper respect but his body was gone. She steps into the tomb in great pain only to find two angles sitting where the body of Jesus had laid. The angles asked her a question, woman why are you weeping? Her response is one that we all need to understand. She says to them “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. She did ask them where they had taken Jesus. She did not accuse the two angles of taking Jesus’ body. Maybe it was her broken heart that blinded her understanding of who these two angles were. Whatever the reason her answer was just that the body of Jesus had been taken and she just wanted to know where he was so she could finish what needed to be done to the body.
She turns to leave the tomb in great confusion and see Jesus standing there but does not know that it is Jesus. Jesus speaks these words of great comfort to the troubles Mary, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” These are words I believe we have all heard from the Lord. Child of mine why are you troubled? Whom are you seeking? Even through Jesus spoke to her out of confusion she still does not realize that Jesus is speaking to her. Her response to Jesus is one that I believe shows that when great grief and pain hits our soul we are blinded by our emotions and a cloud of grief blocks our path.
Appearance of the Resurrected Lord
For Mary the loss of Jesus and the removal of his body was to much for her to bare. The things that cloud our minds and bring great grief are the loss of a loved one, a relationship breakup, a world in turmoil, financial loss, depression, loneliness, feelings of rejection, etc… Mary looks into the face of Jesus and thinking he is the Gardner of the area begs him to tell her if he had moved Jesus just tell me so I can take him away. Jesus responds by calling out Mary name. It was then that Mary knew she was in the presence of her Lord. You see when we are in the pains of life and feel all alone when the Lord calls our name we can feel great comfort. The Appearance of Jesus to Mary is a reminder to us that He is risen and through the empty tomb and a trouble heart Jesus has conquered the sting of death.
At this moment Jesus send Mary on a mission to go and tell the others that he has risen and soon he will ascend to his father and your father to his God and your God. Jesus’ resurrection is for Mary joy and for us great joy. For they have seen the risen Lord but for you and me we wait for his return.
I want to encourage you this morning to not be filled with the emptiness of grief looking into the tomb of life challenges, but rather be waiting and watching for his return. The disciples did not understand until he appeared to him. Let’s us not be loss our belief in the Lord because of empty hearts and broken dreams. But rather let us be waiting upon the Lord who said I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. He will come again and we must believe in the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus if we are to be in the presence of our heavenly father, Jesus Father, our God and His God.