Illogically Logical

After a L O N G hiatus, a recent conversation with a very good friend of mine made me realize that there is an increasing need for people to hear, read, come in contact with the Word. And after much thought - OK, not much thought at all - I realize that I deviated from the work I am asked to do for way too long. Therefore, without saying much more; without delaying any longer, let's get to it!

John 20

"Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 'Dear woman, why are you crying?' the angels asked her. 'Because they have taken away my Lord,' she replied, 'and I don’t know where they have put him." v11-13

WARNING
Read the above passage again before attempting to answer the following question

QUESTION: What's wrong with this passage?

Go'head, read it again....

Nothing...?

Check it

I am sure and would be willing to bet all of my savings (which is a whopping $20 or so) on the fact that we have all experienced death in way or another. Maybe it was a close kin. Maybe it was a friend. Maybe it was the death of a famous person we identified with (like good ol' Mike Jack)... In one way, shape, or form we have all been stung by this thing known as death. And in death there is sadness, there are tears, there is the visit to the one place everyone is - I think - afraid to go: the cemetery.

It is important to note that the Mary being referred in John 20:11 is none other than the Mary of Magdala, known as Mary the Magdalene, or simply Mary Magdalene.

There she is. At the tomb. In a cemetery. Where there are dead people. Dead people. She looks inside the tomb of a close friend of hers who'd recently died. She sees two white-robed dudes. Chillin'. Inside the tomb. In a cemetery. Where there are dead people. Dead people. She's crying. I mean, she is really crying. And one of the white-robed dudes asks her this question: "Dear woman, why are you crying?"

TIME OUT!

Dear woman, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?!

Is that the best question to ask someone who is at a CEMETERY?? What do you mean "why are you crying"? If I were Mary, my response would have gone something like this (clear throat): Oh! Is this not a cemetery? I'm sorry... guess I'm in the wrong place. Let me call my homegirls over and have a barbecue instead!" Feel free to sprinkle a bit more sarcasm.

The point is, for the white-robed dudes being angels, that was the worst question and the wrong question they could have asked Mary; agree?

..... is it really?

Jesus and Mary were close friends. In fact, Jesus was close friends with the trio from Magdala: Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He'd often go and spend time with them at their home. Although it is not stated in the Bible how Jesus came to know this family, I believe that this friendship had a rather unusual beginning.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? That was Mary Magdalene. That was the first time Mary came face to face with her Savior. When all had already condemned her to death, Jesus gave her new life in the words "go and sin no more." John 8:11. Mary's new life must have caught the attention and gratitude of her siblings, arousing a want and need for them to know the originator of such sudden and sure change. And I believe that is when Jesus' friendship with the Magdala trio cemented.

Remember the woman who lavished perfume on Jesus' feet and dried them with her hair? That was Mary Magdalene. Luke 7:36-38

Remember when Jesus wept? That was because Mary Magdalene's brother, Lazarus, had died. John 11

The Bible supports the notion that this friendship was one that Jesus valued, and it is clear that they valued Jesus. Remember Jesus' trial, torture, and crucifixion? Mary witnessed it. On that Friday. Replayed it in her mind that Saturday. Went looking for closure that Sunday...

Which takes us back to the white-robed dude's insane question: "Dear woman, why are you crying?" Mary was crying for two reasons. Jesus had died. And as if that were not enough, someone had taken away his body! "Because they have taken away my Lord', she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him" John 20:13

Believe it or not, Mary by no means answered the question she was being asked. The angels asked her specifically "WHY are you crying?" Instead, Mary understood the question as "why are YOU crying?"

Let me explain.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3 KJV

Although Mary was not present - I don't think - at the time Jesus made this promise, the fact is that He promised a return. Which means that His being dead was something temporary. Temporary meaning not permanent. So the question the angel asked was a rhetorical question of sorts, aiming to make Mary realize the point which completely went over her head: Jesus is ALIVE!

"Dear woman, why are you crying" when you can clearly see the tomb is empty? Do you think we'd be chillin' in here if someone had taken His body away? Fo'real, Mary? Fo'real? If the tomb is empty, can't you see that Jesus lives!? Can't you see that every single word He'd ever spoken, every promise He's ever made, every miracle He's ever performed is now validated and backed up by the fact that Jesus lives!?

Dear woman, WHY are you crying when instead you should be rejoicing? And, yes! Call your homegirls over and let's have a barbecue and throw it down! Because Jesus is alive!


So the question is posed to me, as well as you: WHY are YOU crying when faced with difficulties and uncertainties and clouds of 'what ifs' and whatever else? Can't you see? Can't I see?.... The tomb is empty! And JESUS IS ALIVE!

Hallelujah! Glory be to God! The tomb is empty! And Jesus is alive!

Don't Cry - Kirk Franklin