Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:14-15 ESV
The phrase, “I love you Lord” often used in the lyrics of our worship songs and hymns, though not unknown, was one rarely used by the disciples of Jesus, or even of the Lord Himself. Peter, Matthew or James didn’t get up in the morning saying things like, “Good morning, Jesus. I love you!” Most of the time the disciples were too busy asking questions about what they were to do next or arguing about who was the most important among them. Jesus Himself also spent most of His teaching talking about the Kingdom of God and showing love rather than just talking about it. That all sounds foreign to us who have spent a generation being told we must tell the people around us that we love them on a daily basis. Now, of course, the Bible also tells us that, “God is love” (See 1 John 4:8). At issue is not whether we really love God or not, but on what that love ought to look (and sound) like. Jesus tells us in today’s verse that love, doesn’t just mean saying, “I love you, I love you, I love you.” Love means laying down our lives for Jesus, and for each other, just as He gave His life for us. On the cross as God was revealing the deepest meaning of love through Christ, He didn’t once say, “I love you.” Instead, Jesus promised eternal life to a thief, offered forgiveness to his killers and asked His disciple John to take care of His mother. The lyrics of this week’s hymn do start out with “My Jesus I love Thee” but they also go much deeper into the what and why of that love. In his sermon this Sunday our pastor mentioned that we often gloss over the commands of Jesus and that we forget that He commanded many things. (He counted 38 commands of Christ). The kind of love that mattered to our salvation was a dying love, that chose the nails, the crown of thorns and the cross over comfort, freedom and popularity. The words that we sing about loving Jesus, loving God and thanking Him for Heaven are all great, but they must be coupled with a love that is too deep for words. The love of God is a message that can only be written with the ink of our actions. So, as John tells us in his letter, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree I love Thee for wearing The thorns on Thy brow William Featherstone 1864
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.” John 20:11 ESV
After everyone had left the tomb that morning, still Mary remained. First, the soldiers fled, after first passing out in fear when they saw an angel roll back the stone. Then the women who had come with Mary, returned home once they saw that Jesus was no longer there. Finally, even Peter and John came, but only stayed for a moment before walking away. But Mary, overwhelmed by confusion, grief, and something more that she just couldn’t put into words, stood outside the tomb.
Many of us stand with Mary this morning. A friend has lost his battle with cancer, a wife or husband has walked away, or a child has chosen things we prayed they would never happen. No explanation makes any sense, and most difficult of all is that no one stands with us. No one that is, until…
“And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.” John 20:12
When we stoop to look into the tomb, God gives something more. In Mary’s case, that something more began with angels, but for us it could be a phone call from a friend, a neighbor stopping by or even a Christian song heard on the radio. God has not abandoned us. He has not forgotten. Our weeping does come, but it comes to pass. It washes through us like tidal wave, but after it passes, there are angels, messengers of God, sent to ask us a question and calm our hearts.
They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”John 20:13
Notice, the angels didn’t say, “Stop it! Jesus is alive! Don’t worry be happy!” God understands the fragile nature of our heart, and He tenderly begins His work of restoration with a gentle question. Why are we weeping? Where is the source of our hope? Then as tears begin to dry and calm creeps into our hearts, Jesus Himself comes, though we may not yet recognize Him.
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. John 20:14
Again, the message God brings, is not a loud, “Cheer up!” It comes with a question, asked this time from His very lips, “Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?…” God does not demand hope, command us to smile or require laughter. He comes with a hand to brush tears away and an ear to listen to our needs.
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.” John 20:15b-16a
He has come, calmed our hearts, and listened to our prayer. Now we are ready. He has gently prepared us to hear His message of hope, and that begins when we hear Him call our name. If you are struggling, in despair, grief or feeling hopeless, don’t give up. All you may have left is like that empty tomb, but don’t walk away. God knows your heart. He is listening, and He is coming, though we may not recognize Him at first. That’s okay! Jesus is standing near, though He might look like the gardener! He remembers you. He has come, and He is calling your name!
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