Why Weepest Thou? Who Seekest Thou?
John 20:1-18 (text: v. 15)
Mary Magdalene was the first person to visit Christ’s tomb after His resurrection.
She was the first person to see Jesus after His resurrection (Mk. 16:9). The first words Jesus spoke after His resurrection were to a weeping woman—“Woman, why weepest Thou? Whom seekest thou?”
Mary loved Jesus. Her life was transformed when He cast seven devils out of her and set her free from Satan’s bondage. From that day forward, Mary became one of Christ’s most devoted followers.
When Jesus was crucified, Mary remained at the foot of the cross and watched her beloved Savior die. The One who changed her life is gone.
As they took Jesus’ body from the cross, the Sabbath day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was at hand. There was little time to prepare His body for burial. Along with the other women, they waited for the men to make arrangements to bury Jesus’ body… somewhere… anywhere. Joseph of Arimathaea offered the use of his tomb. They hurriedly wrap Jesus’ body in linens and spices and place it in the borrowed tomb. They intended to return later after the Sabbath to finish anointing Jesus’ body.
I. Mary’s amazing DISCOVERY (vs. 1-2a)
A. Her ARRIVAL at the tomb. On the first day of the week Mary goes first to the tomb. Other women will also come shortly, but Mary arrives first. It is early morning and still dark (v. 1).
B. Her AMAZEMENT at the tomb. To her amazement the guards are gone — Where are they? The stone has been removed from the opening of the grave—Who moved it? What does this all mean? She must go tell Peter and John (v. 2).
II. Mary’s abrupt DEDUCTION (v. 2b).
A. Her erroneous CONJECTURE. Mary does not tell them Christ was risen. No, Mary “jumped to the conclusion” and supposes, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher…” (v. 2).
The thought Jesus was risen from the dead didn’t enter her mind.
We must not rush to judge Mary’s faulty deduction too harshly. First, as far as we know, she was unaware of Christ telling His disciples He would rise on the third day. Second, this was unprecedented—nothing like this had ever happened before. Put yourself in Mary’s place—How would you respond in her situation? How you would feel if you went to a cemetery to put flowers on a loved one’s grave only to find it uncovered and empty?
B. John’s correct CONCLUSION (vs. 3-9). Peter and John run to check it out (vs. 3-8). [HUMOR v. 4—Evidently God wanted us to know John was faster than Peter. Or, John wanted us to know he was a faster runner than Peter.].
Partial Sermon: FULL SERMON PDF HERE
