John 20:15
DON’T WEEP!
There are two major Christian Holidays that shine above all others. These holidays, of course, are supposed to be joyous occasions celebrating Jesus’ birth and His resurrection from the dead.
The problem with having joy at Christmas and Easter has to do with the fact that we live in a real world. There are times when we feel much like Mary Magdalene in John 20. Her Lord and Master had been terribly mistreated and murdered. Now, she has come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, and the body is missing. She did not realize that Jesus had risen, so out of sorrow and frustration, she stood outside the tomb weeping according to verse 11.
I am not deceived. Not everyone who comes to an Easter Service is ecstatic with joy. In fact, some of you probably feel like weeping. And even though some of you may not feel like weeping, your joy is hampered by events that have happened to you and your friends. Life is filled with sorrow.
There is the sorrow caused by hurt feelings.
There is the sorrow caused from being mistreated.
There is the sorrow caused by seeing others hurt and mistreated.
There is the sorrow caused by family difficulties.
There is the sorrow caused by strained relationships and lack of money and/or jobs.
There is the sorrow caused by sickness and death.
These sorrows create a barrier that makes it difficult for us to be joyful at Easter.
As Mary stood there weeping, she was asked by angels why she was weeping.
John 20:11-13 - But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, [12] And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. [13] And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Mary’s answer to their inquiry was the reason at the moment that she was weeping. However, it was probably the culmination of sorrows over the previous days that also added to the weeping.
May I ask you a question, one to be answered silently?
Why are you weeping this morning? You may not be literally weeping, but what is making you sad on this joyous holiday?
John 20:15 - Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus appears to Mary, although Mary at first does not realize it. And Jesus asked her “Woman, why are you weeping?” Notice that Jesus cares when he asks that question. However, I believe that he is also telling Mary that there is no longer a need to weep.
My friend, Jesus cares about what is causing you sorrow and He wants you to tell him when you have sorrows. He cares enough to listen.
Hebrews 4:15-16 - For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
It is interesting that Jesus turned her weeping into joy with just one word. He spoke her name.
John 20:16 - Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Jesus basically communicated to Mary that she should not weep because Jesus, her master, was very much alive.
The Lord Jesus turned her sorrow into joy.
And this Easter morning, the Lord Jesus wants your sorrow to be turned to joy. It does not mean that your problems will go away. But it does mean that we can rejoice in spite of our circumstances.
So this morning, I say to you, if you are a born-again Christian, if you have trusted Christ as your Savior don’t weep!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RESIDING!
DON’T WEEP! HE WILL RETURN!
DON’T WEEP! HE REIGNS!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
The announcements that the angles gave the women who came to the tomb, was that Jesus has risen.
The message Jesus gave the two disciples on the way to Emmaus was that He has risen!
The message to the apostles and to Thomas was that He has risen!
And Jesus appearing to Mary was declaring that He had risen!
And the message that God gives to us on this Easter Morn is that Christ is risen!
1 Corinthians 15:20 - But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Death can not keep his prey - Jesus my Savior!
He tore the bars away - Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign:
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Christ Arose, Robert Lowry
Why is the resurrection a source of joy!
· The resurrection proves that God has accepted Christ’s sacrifice for sin.
· The resurrection promises life after death.
John 11:25-26 - Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: [26] And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
· The resurrection shows us that Jesus is alive so he can indeed intercede in our behalf.
Romans 8:34 - Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
So for those of us who want to weep on this resurrection day, we have the hope of the resurrection. The hope that says Christ is alive and intercedes for me. The hope that says because Christ is risen, I will also resurrect from the dead.
John 14:19 - Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
When you were born, you were born into captivity.
You were born into the bondage of sin.
You are a sinner by nature.
You have willfully disobeyed God.
Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
In order for you to be set free from your bondage, someone had to pay for your sins and set you free. This is what redemption is, the paying of a ransom to someone free.
This is what Christ has done for all of those that name Him as Savior.
1 Peter 1:18-19 - Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
It was not a ransom of silver and gold that was paid for your sin. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless son of God that was shed. As John the Baptist said so long ago, …Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
Romans 5:9 - Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? It is the blood of Christ that declares you righteous before God.
If when you die you stand before the gate of Heaven, and God asks you why He should let you in, you can say with joy that it is because Jesus redeemed you with His precious blood.
As Augustus Toplady said in his hymn, Rock of Ages,
“In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
To be regenerated is to be born again.
John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
If you have truly trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior, you have been literally born into the family of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is regeneration.
John 3:5-8 - Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
[7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Why should you not weep because you have been regenerated? You should not weep because you have new life in Christ now!
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Although you have problems, you have new life to see you through!
Although you still the devil is now your enemy you have new life to see you through.
Although there are times of depression and tears, you have the new life, the regenerated life to see you through!
You now have the ability to handle your difficulties through Christ!
Romans 5:17 - For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RESIDING!
If you have been regenerated the Spirit of God and of Christ dwells in you. He is living inside. It is the Spirit of Christ who is present to comfort and help you.
John 14:16-18 - And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
How should the residence of Christ through the Holy Spirit encourage you?
· It is the Holy Spirit that brings comfort to you when you hurt.
· It is the Holy Spirit that tells you that you are a child of God.
Romans 8:16 - The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
· It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to witness.
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
· It is the Holy Spirit that produces fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
· It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to pray.
Romans 8:26-27 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
So, if Jesus is residing inside of us, what should our response be to Him?
Our response should be to abide in Him, to remain close to have fellowship with Him.
John 15:4-5,7 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
It’s hard to weep for very long when you are staying close to the Lord Jesus because He is residing inside of you.
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RESIDING!
DON’T WEEP! HE WILL RETURN!
John 14:1-3 - Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus is coming back for us.
He might come and receive you personally by way of death.
Or you may be here when he comes for those who believe in Him.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 - Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Christian, your life is temporary in this world.
Christian, at any moment you could be taken by death.
Christian, at any moment you could be taken home with all other Christians.
Christian, we have a blessed hope, and should act that way.
Titus 2:11-13 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; [13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
DON’T WEEP! HE WILL RETURN!
DON’T WEEP! HE REIGNS!
Revelation 1:18 - I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
My friend, Jesus is God.
My friend, OUR GOD REIGNS!
Rev. 22:13 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Isaiah 52:7 - How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace, who brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
My friend, Jesus is very much alive and He reigns.
No matter what goes wrong, He reigns.
Not matter what difficulty you face, He reigns.
There is nothing that you face today that is out of the control of God.
YOUR GOD REIGNS – believe it!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – rest in Him!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – rejoice!
YOUR GOD REIGNS – relax!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RISEN!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REDEEMED!
DON’T WEEP! WE ARE REGENERATED!
DON’T WEEP! HE IS RESIDING!
DON’T WEEP! HE WILL RETURN!
DON’T WEEP! HE REIGNS!