Why Are You Weeping? A sermon based on John 20: 1-18, preached on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

As I think about the empty tomb on that first Easter morning and the scene described in the Scripture lesson we just read, I notice that there are three people who showed up, and all three were there for different reasons. First, there’s the unnamed “disciple,” the one whom Jesus loved. Some Bible scholars have said that this disciple is nameless in our Scripture lesson so that we can imagine ourselves in his shoes. Regardless, we know that Jesus loved him and that he knew that the Savior had been crucified, then put in that tomb, but it’s as though he believed Jesus when He said He would rise again, for when he hears that the tomb is empty, he’s ready. He rushes so quickly to get to there that he beats Peter there. This unnamed disciple reminds me of those of you who woke up this morning with your Easter dresses laid out. You knew which flowers you’d bring to place on the flower cross outside the church. Your ham is already in the oven, and peeps are your favorite candy. There are people here like that unnamed, beloved disciple. On that first Easter morning, Peter and that beloved disciple heard that the tomb was empty from Mary Magdalene. Peter and the unnamed, beloved disciple set off running; yet that Peter would run towards the empty tomb is ironic. Do you remember how quickly Peter had been running away from Jesus since the Lord was arrested? When Jesus was arrested, Peter was afraid that he would be next. While Jesus was suffering, Peter didn’t want to suffer alongside Him, so when a crowd pointed him out saying, “That man was with Jesus,” Peter denied that he even knew who Jesus was. Why then did Peter rush to the empty tomb? Was it because he felt guilty? Was it because he wanted to apologize? Was it because he’d been carrying around regret and shame, punishing himself for what he’d failed to do? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that some of you are here for such a reason. While I know that some of you are here because of how you love Easter and love the Resurrected Savior, I imagine some of you are here because you haven’t been to church since Christmas, and it seems like it’s about time for you to get back in here. Peter went to the tomb carrying a heavy burden, and people carry heavy burdens into this church. So many of us are weighed down with guilt, shame, regret, and self-loathing. Not everyone joyfully rushes to get in here on Easter morning, yet regardless of why you’re here, I want you to know that I’m so thankful you are here. I’m thankful that you’re here, even if you don’t want to be here. That’s how it was with Mary Magdalene. Remember that there were three. The unnamed, beloved disciple who rushed to get there. Peter who rushed, too, because he suffered from a guilty conscience. With Mary Magdalene, it was out of devotion to a man she loved with all her heart. Mary Magdalene showed up at the tomb that first Easter. She was there to anoint a corpse for burial. She didn’t want to be there. She needed to be there. She was there early that morning to honor a man who changed her whole life, but she wasn’t there to see Him; she was there to pay her respect. She wasn’t there because it was pleasant. She was there because it was necessary. Some of you are here today for a similar reason. Mama asked you to come, or your father used to go to church here. You’re here because being here makes them proud. You’re here out of respect or devotion. Your wife comes to this church, and she begged you to come today because it’s Easter. You’re not really expecting anything special to happen. In fact, if a miracle fell in your lap, you might miss it, and so it was with Mary Magdalene. Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept, she bent over to investigate the tomb. Two angels were there, and they asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” If it sounds strange to be asked a question like that by two angels, know that Mary didn’t notice it was strange. She didn’t think it was strange to see two angels. Neither did she think it was strange to see Jesus. She didn’t recognize the angels as angels, and she thought Jesus was the gardener. That’s how it is with miracles for people who don’t believe in miracles. They just look right through them and explain them away, so Mary, who showed up at the tomb to anoint a dead body for burial, never considered that Jesus was talking to her. She thought He was a gardener, and when He asked her “Woman, why are you weeping?” she said, “because I wanted to stay home to watch the game, but my husband dragged me to church.” No. Assuming that this man who appeared to be the gardener had moved the dead body, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Right then, Jesus said to her, “Mary!” He called her by name. That opened her eyes, and my friends, regardless of why you’re here, I want you to know that Jesus knows your name. He knows why you’ve come, what you need, and who you are looking for. He knows who you’re missing, and why your heart breaks, and what brings you joy. Jesus has called you here, even if it was your mama who twisted your arm. Jesus called you here, even if every day is Easter Sunday for you. Jesus called you here, even if you drug in a 10-pound bag of guilt along with you. And He knows why you weep. I wonder if, when that beloved disciple investigated the empty tomb, he wept for joy. I wonder if Peter, on the night he betrayed the Lord, wept because he had failed. Do you weep, late at night, wondering if you’ll ever live it down? Do you weep because you can’t believe what you did? Or is it because you miss him? Like Mary Magdalene, do you go in his closet, just to breathe in the smell of his clothes? Out of devotion to someone buried in the grave, have you come here today? Is it simply because you thought coming here might help you feel closer, or might help you feel connected? I want you to know that while the unnamed, beloved disciple showed up at the empty tomb that first Easter morning with Easter basket in hand and a hymn on his lips, Peter showed up at the tomb weighed down by guilt and shame. Mary Magdalene showed up to anoint a body for burial. Yet as soon as He said her name, she dropped those burial spices and rushed to embrace the Lord, for He is risen. Peter might have done the same, had he dared to doubt the voices in his head telling him he’d never live it down. Peter might have laid down his heavy burden of guilt, shame, and regret had he just noticed that Christ had broken those chains and removed that burden, but he was so stuck in his own dark, desolate tomb that he wasn’t ready to come out. He was so stuck in the habit of shedding tears that he left that empty tomb more confused than ever, for we all get stuck. This Easter morning, I tell you it’s not just Jesus who has been stuck in a tomb; it’s you and me. We get stuck in tombs of our own shame. Stuck in tombs of our own selfishness and narrowmindedness. Stuck in tombs of grief and mourning. Stuck in tombs where death has all the power. Why are you here? Why are you weeping? The reason hardly matters, for we are all here together, and I tell you, in a divided world, division will not have the final word today. Isolation will not have the final word today. Death will not have the final word today. For He is risen. Doubt your conviction that miracles are all superstition, that people never change, that the bad guys always come out on top, or that all hope is lost. Doubt your conviction that you can never be forgiven. That the church serves no real purpose. That everyone is out to get you. That being here is just killing time until the ham is served. Doubt those stories that the world has told you and take notice of the miracle of Easter. For death gives way to life. Shame gives way to forgiveness. Doubt gives way to faith. Isolation gives way to community. Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to anoint a corpse for burial. She dropped those burial spices to rejoice in the Good News, and I hope that you who are carrying heavy burdens will drop what you’ve carried in here. Drop your burdens and rejoice in the gift that God provides. For He is Risen. He is Risen, indeed. Halleluia. Amen.