Like the Mary’s, we look for the living among the dead. We worry about things that God has already taken care of, and we are afraid of things we should not be afraid of. Like his disciples we also find ourselves mourning when we should be rejoicing. When Mary Magdalene saw Jesus after His resurrection, she hurried to find His disciples. Mark 16:13 says, “she went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.”
Jesus had spoken to His disciples regarding His resurrection on several occasions but they were not listening. Well, I think they heard him, but they did not hear him. He even made it fairly specific that He would take them to be with him. He said, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also.” But we still find them mourning and weeping! What’s up with that? We are just like them, aren’t we! We hear Jesus’ promises, yet we still mourn. We celebrate the resurrection every year, and yet we weep over the loss of our loved ones.
Grief is a legitimate emotion and we should not deny it or reject it, but our faith in Jesus’ promises should make it short lived. We should never wallow in grief and let our sorrows overwhelm us. When we do, we illustrate a lack of faith and confidence in the one who has made everlasting promises to us. When the great Christian scientist Sir Michael Faraday was dying, some journalists questioned him about his speculations for a life after death. He purportedly replied: “Speculations! I know nothing about speculations. I’m resting on certainties. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and because He lives, I shall live also.”
Chuck
“Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t realize that it was Jesus. Woman, he said, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” John 20:14-15