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JOHN 20:15

"WHY WEEPEST THOU?"

I. "WOMAN, WHY WEEPEST THOU?"
        A. These were the first words Jesus spoke after His resurrection.
                1. Spoken to Mary Magdalene.
                        a. She had no doubt shed many tears before she met Jesus.
                                1. Her life had been tormented and miserable.
                                2. Jesus had freed her from the power of Satan.
                        b. Her life was totally devoted to Jesus.
                                1. She was among the company of women who followed Jesus.
                                2. She had never known such joy and hope.
                2. She was also with the company of women, wailing and lamenting for Jesus as
                   He bore His cross toward Calvary.
                        a. She was with the other Marys at the cross as He died.
                        b. She had probably not stopped weeping in the intervening three days.
                3. Her undying devotion had brought her to the tomb, just to touch the body
                   and to embalm it with spices.
                4. Her desire for Jesus so great she turned away from the angels in the tomb.
                        a. When your heart yearns for Jesus, even angels won't do.

II. WHAT HER WEEPING REVEALED.
        A. Her great devotion for Jesus.
        B. Her lack of faith in His words.
                1. He had promised to rise again on the third day.

III. THE RESURRECTION TURNED HER TEARS INTO ECSTASY.
        A. If there were no resurrection of Jesus from the dead, then we Christians would be
           the most miserable lot of all.
                1. Our love for Jesus has caused us to be more sensitive to the world's ills.
                2. Others may harden their hearts to the cries of the needy world, we can't.
                3. Others may dull their senses with alcohol or drugs, we won't.
                4. We feel the pain of the molested child and we pray for the better word, for
                   His Kingdom to come.
        B. It is the faith in the resurrection and the hope of His Kingdom that 'brings us joy
           in the world of darkness and death.

IV. THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH WAS THE FACT THAT JESUS ROSE  FROM THE DEAD.
        A. He thus proved His claim as Messiah.
        B. Each sermon in Acts centered on this theme.
        C. For two thousand years, the church has given this witness to the world.
        D. We have gathered here this morning as a witness to this fact.
        E. The first person commissioned by Jesus to carry this message was a woman, Mary
           Magdalene, whose tears were turned to joy on the first Easter morning.
                1. Let us go forth and tell the good news to a dying world. He is risen!  He
                   is risen indeed!