Why the Tears?

"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?'"  John 20:15

When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning, she met the resurrected Christ in the garden.  She did not know it was Jesus because her eyes were filled with tears, and she was preoccupied with her deep hurt and utter despair.

Her hopes and dreams had crashed and burned as she saw Jesus beaten and crucified.  Her Lord and Savior was now dead.  How could that be?  Wasn’t He the Messiah?  And to add insult to injury, someone had even taken His body from the tomb.  It couldn’t get any more heartbreaking for Mary.     

And in her profound state of grief, Jesus asks her this simple but probing question, “Why are you weeping?”       

Tears Will End in Joy

Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. — Psalm 30:5

God knows how much we can bear, and even when He chastens in the sense of punishment, He knows how much each of us can take.

It is possible that right now you are going through something awful—a nightmare. Perhaps your nightmare is because you are obedient, and it is God's way of making you more like Jesus. "For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God" (1 Pet. 2:19). But the nightmare will end.

When the nightmare is over, it could mean a restoration of honor. In Psalm 126:4 the psalmist said, "Restore our fortunes, O Lord." It could be that your good name is under a cloud. Maybe you have done something that has caused people to raise their eyebrows, or perhaps you have been falsely accused and you long to have your name cleared.

It could be a restoration of holiness. Are you a backslider? Have you been living in sin and just doing anything that your body feels like? It is not worth it.

Bethlehem – the House of Bread

Scripture Passage  :  Genesis 35:15-20

INTRODUCTION : Genesis 35:19 is the first mention of Bethlehem in the Bible. The name means house of bread. This could mean a place where one could come and eat when hungry; a place of supply for the hungry (Isaiah 58:6-7). Historically, Bethlehem is just such a place. We will look at Bethlehem as a type of God’s supply for the hungry in five different incidents in the Bible. But first, let us visit the town of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem is located five miles south of Jerusalem (the distance from Antioch Baptist Church to downtown Knoxville). The mountains and valleys between the two cities make it impossible to see the one from the other. Bethlehem is located on a ridge one hundred feet higher than Jerusalem. It has a deep valley to its north and another to its south. This explains why the Philistines put a garrison there. 

To the east of Bethlehem, the land drops quickly down to the Dead Sea. To the west, there is a slightly milder drop to the Plain of Philistia. These slopes are known in ancient times for their terraced gardens. Bethlehem was normally a fairly small town. Biblically, it is the place of the death of Rachel, the birth of David and Jesus, and the marriage of Ruth and Boaz. We will see it as the house of bread.

1. A PLACE OF WEEPING
1. The Death of Rachel (Genesis 35:15-20
   )
2. The Weeping of Rachel (Matthew 2:16-18
   )
3. The Hope in Weeping (Jeremiah 31:15-17
   )
4. Jesus: the Rest for the Weary (Matthew 11:28-30
   )
2. A PLACE OF BLESSING
1. The Loss of All (Ruth 1:1-5
   )
2. The Return in Sorrow (Ruth 1:19-22
   )
3. The Blessing for Ruth (Ruth 2:1-12
   )
4. The Kinsman- Redeemer (Ruth 4:9-11
   )
5. Jesus: Making Us the Sons of God (John 1:10-13
   )
3. A PLACE OF ANOINTING
1. The Choice of a King (1 Samuel 16:1-3
   )
2. The Choice Not Expected (1 Samuel 16:6-13
   )
3. The Promise of a Seed (2 Samuel 7:8-13
   )
4. Jesus: the Son of David (Matthew 1:1
   ; Luke 1:31-32
   )
5. God’s Choice Today (1 Corinthians 1:26-29
   )
4. A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT
1. The Thirsty Soul (2 Samuel 23:14-15
   )
2. The Three Mighty Men (2 Samuel 23:16
   ); as the Trinity
3. Jesus: the Source of Water (John 4:10-14
   )
5. A PLACE OF SALVATION
1. A Place of Taxation (Luke 2:1-7
   )
2. The Birth of the Saviour (Luke 2:8-11
   )
3. Jesus: the Saviour of the World (John 4:42
   ; 1 Timothy 4:10
   )

CONCLUSION:

Are you weeping? Are you heavy?

Are you burdened down with sin?

Come to the town of Bethlehem

And let the Christ child in.

Are you thirsty? Are you hungry?

Seeking bread that satisfies?

Come to the town of Bethlehem

To Christ—the One who died.

Seeking purpose and direction;

Are you wandering in a maze?

Come to the town of Bethlehem

And let Christ show the way.

Have your dreams gone up in smoke?

Have you lost a loved one dear?

Come to the town of Bethlehem

Where Christ will make things clear.


by David F. Reagan

David Reagan

http://www.learnthebible.org/sermon-outlines/bethlehem-the-house-of-bread.html