April 2, 2006

Seven Questions

Why Are You Weeping?

John 20:10-18

Opening Words: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at dawn on Easter. Not counting Sundays, which are mini Easters, Lent lasts forty days. The number forty is reserved in the Bible for sacred time periods. In the story of Noah it rained for forty days and nights. The Jews wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Jesus fasted for forty days before being tempted by Satan. Jesus walked the face of this world for forty days in his resurrected state after Easter. For forty days we will join the Christian world and strive to live lives that are more pleasing to God.

This year’s Lenten sermon series is called Seven Questions. They are seven questions that Jesus asked the disciples. They are seven questions that Jesus is asking us. The master did not ask these questions to expose our ignorance. The master asked these questions to help us grow in the faith. This morning’s question is why are you weeping? It is a question of hope. Let us hear this Gospel reading together.

Introduction

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He wondered how he could get these predominantly black and Puerto Rican children even to look at him. Scrapping his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you." At that moment the lives of these students changed. For the first time they had hope. One student said, "I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling." Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school. Aristotle once said, “Hope is a waking dream.” Living with hope will change your life! Let us look at this morning’s scripture lesson together.

Body

We are in the twentieth chapter of John, verses ten through eighteen. The main character in this morning’s text is Mary Magdalene. Jesus had changed her life. Once filled with seven demons, Mary Magdalene was now a whole person with a bright future. Her rebirth could be traced back to Jesus! She believed in Jesus and would follow him anywhere. The problem is in this scene Jesus is dead. She saw him die on the cross. She saw him laid in the tomb. She felt the pain of grieve the enter weekend. In her heart of hearts she knew there would be no happy ending. She begins to cry because the separation is difficult. She cries because her plan for her future is also dead. Without Jesus there is no hope.

Have you ever cried in frustration because the plan for your life just isn’t working out? In High School you were voted the most likely to succeed but you are still waiting for success? You dreamed of seeing the world but you have left Mahoning County in five years. Did you dream of getting married but you still are looking for the right person? Perhaps, you found that right person but they turned into Mr. or Mrs. Wrong? Are you still rocking an empty cradle? Are you afraid you will never have enough money to retire? Are you afraid your health is failing? Have you ever cried in frustration because the plan for your life just isn’t working out?

Mary Magdalene isn’t just crying because Jesus is dead. Mary Magdalene is crying because her plan isn’t working and she doesn’t stop crying until she makes the discovery that changed history. Jesus, himself, walks up to her and says, “Why are you crying?” The Revised Standard Version translates that question, “”Why are you weeping?” In other words, Jesus says to her, “Life is not as bad as you think.” There was still a plan for her life. Jesus had a bigger plan then she could even imagine. We are still talking about her two thousand years later. Jesus asked Mary, “Why are you weeping?” because there was hope for a bright future.

Is there anyone here this morning that is running a little low on hope? Your plan for your life isn’t working out. That does not mean you have come to the end. It just means you need to let go of your plan for your life and embrace God God’s plan for your life. You maybe just like Mary. Perhaps, God’s plan for your life is bigger then you ever imagined. As your pastor let me invite you to this communion table and encourage you to be open God’s leading. Jesus still expects you to make a difference in this world. You still have hope for a great future. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” Why are you weeping? Let me end with a simple story.

Conclusion

As Alexander the Great was setting out on his conquest of Asia, he inquired into the finances of his followers. To ensure that they would not be troubled over the welfare of their dependents during their absence, he distributed crown estates and revenues among them. When he had thus disposed of nearly all the royal resources, his friend General Perdiccas asked Alexander what he had reserved for himself. "Hope," answered the king. "In that case," said Perdiccas, "we who share in your labors will also take part in your hopes." I can relate to that story and so can you. We share in Christ’s labors and we share in his hope. Why are you weeping?