Woman, Why Weepest Thou? (July 7, 2023)

 It’s been awhile!

A few weeks ago as I read the Come, Follow Me manual, there was a sentence that struck me. It was in reference to Peter denying Christ three times. It said:

“There are daily opportunities to either deny or witness of the Savior; what will you do to be a daily witness of Him?”

And in that moment, I thought of this account. It has been a way to witness of the Savior!

And although sharing = vulnerability, & the challenges of the last year have tested my faith, I again realized this is something I desire to do:

I want to be a witness of Him.

And articulating the feelings in my heart in this space is one way to do it.

So, my thought today:

I recently returned from a trip to a Europe- my first time! We saw AMAZING sights & architecture, including historical museums & many breathtaking cathedrals with so much beautiful artwork depicting Jesus Christ.

I loved thinking of those long ago Christians who believed in Jesus just like I do. However, I did wonder why there is so much about Christ’s suffering & death in those places & hardly anything about the best part in the Bible- His resurrection!

Of course, thinking of Christ’s sacrifice is important. Yes, I mourn His cruel death. But the story moves on!

I believe in a living Christ! A Jesus we can personally come to know! A Jesus who loves us & came to earth to die SO that we could live!

Focusing on the past made me sad. But the restored gospel really focuses on the future!

As we attended the Rome temple, I felt the Spirit so strong! For me it was a stark contrast to all other places we’d visited. The feeling in there was different, it just was! Warm, hopeful, alive.

There is so much good to come in life & beyond. BECAUSE HE LIVES.

When Mary weeps at the tomb & He asks her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” she is grieving. Then it takes one word: “Mary.”

Everything changes. She sees before her the resurrected Lord.

What amazement, what hope, what joy she must have felt!

He knows your name. He knows mine. And when we weep over the past, He lovingly calls to us, showing us He is there- Alive. Showing us what is possible- Everything. Reminding us the end of the story-

It’s yet to come.