Questions Jesus Asks: Why Are You Weeping?

Trinity United Methodist Church's Podcast

Yesterday I visited someone in the hospital. On the wall in his room was a pain chart, numbered 1-10. A face accompanied every two numbers. The face with numbers 1 and 2 had a big smile. The face with numbers 9 and 10 had a grim face with big tears. You know the drill. When asked by a nurse or other health care attendant, the patient points to or names the number to indicate the level of pain.

Even when we are not hospitalized, you and I may experience pain that brings us to tears. We feel a number 10 emotional pain when undergoing a deep loss. That was Mary Magdalene’s experience in the cemetery on Sunday morning in what the New Interpreter’s Study Bible calls “one of the most beautifully told stories in the Bible.” It begins with Mary Magdalene weeping at the tomb of Jesus. Twice she is asked, once by angels and once by Jesus, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

Her concern was the location of the body. His concern was the resurrection of the body. She was focused on great grief. He was focused on great grace. She was weeping at his death. He was winning over death. She was clinging to Jesus. He was ascending to his Father.

God cries. Jesus cried. We cry. Sunday we will share the message, “Why Are You Weeping?” from John 20:11-18. We will explore what moves us to tears, the value of tears, and a time there will be no more tears.

Questions Jesus Asks: Why Are You Weeping?
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost
Scripture: John 20:11-18
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