A Handkerchief
“JE6U8 SATTH UlfTO HER, WOMAN, WHY WEEPEST THOU T
WHOM SEEKEST THOU?” — John xx. 15.
WOMAN has had many reasons for weeping
since the fall
Jesus went to his death amid weeping women, and on his rising he met a little company of them.
The first words of a risen Saviour are to a weeping woman.
He who was born of woman has come to dry up woman’s tears.
Observe the wise method followed by the divine Consoler.
Magdalene is to state the reason of her weeping. “Why weepest thou?” Often sorrow vanishes when it is defined It is wise to chase away mystery and understand the real cause of grief.
He helps her also by coming nearer to her grief in the second question: “Whom seekest thou?” She was seeking him.
He was himself the answer to his own inquiries.
In all cases Jesus is the most suitable Comforter and comfort.
Let us put this question, “Why weepest thou?” in two ways.
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I. Is IT NATURAL SORROW?
1. Art thou bereaved? The risen Saviour comforts
thee; for —
He assures thee of the resurrection of the departed.
He is with thee, thy living Helper.
He sympathizes with thee, for he once lost his friend Lazarus; yea, he himself has died.
2. Are thy beloved ones sick? Sorrow not impatiently; for —
He lives to hear prayer for healing. He waits to bless them if they are dying.
3. Art thou thyself sick? Be not impatient; for —
Jesus lives to moderate thy pains. Jesus lives to sustain thy heart under suffering. Jesus lives to give life to thy body, as he has done to thy soul.
4. Art thou poor? Do not murmur, for —
He lives, and is rich.
He would have thee find thine all in himself.
He will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
5. Art thou of a sorrowful spirit? Do not despond, but —
See where Ms sorrows have brought him. See how he came to the sorrowful, and how he
cometh still. See what he does in his consoling ministry,
and imitate him by cheering others. Thus
thou shalt thyself be comforted.
II. Is IT SPIRITUAL SORROW?
1. Distinguish. See whether it be good or ill.
“Why weepest thou?”
Is it selfish sorrow? Be ashamed of it.
Is it rebellious? Repent of it.
Is it ignorant? Learn of Jesus, and so escape
it.
Is it hopeless? Believe in God and hope
ever.
Is it gracious? Then thank him for it.
2. Declare. Tell Jesus all about it. “Why weepest thou?”
Is it sorrow for others? He weeps with thee. Are loved ones abiding in sin? Is the church cold and dead? Is it the sorrow of a seeking saint? He meets
thee.
Dost thou miss his presence?
Hast thou grieved his Holy Spirit?
Canst thou not attain to holiness?
Canst ihou not serve him as much as thou deshv-fet?
Do thy prayers appear to fail? Does thine old nature rebel? Is it the sorrow of one in doubt? He will strengthen thee. Come to Jesus as a sinner. Is it the sorrow of a seeking sinner? He will
receive thee.
Dost thou weep because of past sin? Dost thou fear because of thine evil nature? Art thou unable to understand the gospel? Dost thou weep lest thou grow hardened again?
Dost thou mourn because thou canst not
mourn? He is before thee: believe in him, and weeping
will end. He accepts thee: in him thou hast all thou art
eeking for.
CONSOLATORY THOUGHTS.
A Hindoo woman said to a missionary, u Surely your Bible was written by a woman.” “Why?” “Because it says so many kind things for women. Our pundits never refer to us but in reproach.”
“Woman, why weepest thou?” God and his angels take notice of every tear of our devotion. The sudden wonder hath not dried her eyes, nor charmed her tongue: she freely confesseth the cause of her grief to be the missing of her Saviour: “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” Alas! good Mary, how dost thou lose thy tears? Of whom dost thou complain but of thy best Friend? Who hath removed thy Lord but himself? WTho but his own Deity hath taken away his human body out of the region of death? Neither is he now laid any more; he stands by thee, whose removal thou complainest of. Thus many a tender and humble soul afflicts itself with the want of that Saviour whom it hath, and feeleth not. — Bishop Hall.
She turns away from the angels, like a Rachel who will not be comforted. But there is comfort in store for her, sorrow as she may. We have an example given us here of how only the Lord himself can suffice to comfort spirits like that of Mary Magdalene. The Lord sees the heart, and none shall weep for him in vain; but even the angels, gracious though their sympathy be, must leave the task of comforting the deepest sorrow to the Lord.
Rudolf Slier.
The first words that ever Christ spake after his resurrection to them he appeared to, were, “Woman, why weepest thou?” It is a good question after Christ’s resurrection. What cause of weeping remains now that Christ is risen? Our sins are for given, because he, our Plead and Surety, hath suffered death for us; and if Christ be risen again, why weep we? If we be broken-hearted, humbled sinners, that have interest in his death and resurrection, we have no cause to grieve. — Richard Sibbes.
“Good men weep easily,” says the Greek poet; and the better any are, the more inclined to weeping, especially under affliction. As you may see in David, whose tears, instead of gems, were the ornaments of his bed; in Jonathan, Job, Ezra, Daniel, etc. “How,” says one, “shall God wipe away my tears in heaven if I shed none on earth? And how shall I reap in joy if I sow not in tears? I was born with tears, and I shall die with tears; and why then should I live without them in this valley of tears?”
Thomas Brooks.
Be not troubled, my soul. God has for thee some thing better than thy imaginings. It is with thee as with the women of Galilee. They sought only a dead form, and they found a living Lord. Thou also hast been too eager for the earthly form of thy hope’s fulfilment. Has he promised that all things shall work together for thy good, and yet denied thee the comforts of the world? What then? Is his promise void? May it not be that thou hast found thy promise in the very region where it seems to have failed thee, in the privations and sorrows of life? What matter though thou hast lost the form, if thou hast found the sepulchre vacant? The loss is a gain, and the vacancy is fulness of joy. There are losses which mean nothing less than resurrection. I rise more by the discovery of my wants than by the discovery of my possessions O
fragrance of the broken ointment box! 0 light of resurrection! reached from human emptiness, I am enriched by the gain of thee. — Dr. George MatJiesoii.