"Why Weepest Thou?"

Life is good. In fact, I would venture to say that life is really good. We just bought a house, Chris and I have good jobs, and we have some great friend and family support. This past summer has been a time of shifting perspectives for me, which have been hard at times but really great for growth. In our past ward I had the blessing of serving as the laurel advisor. I LOVED it! It was a great opportunity for me to refocus on some spiritually things that I had become a bit lazy with. In my studies for one of my lessons several months ago on the Atonement I became focused on the account in John where the resurrected Savior appears to Mary Magdalene. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Here are some of my thoughts:

"Why Weepest Thou?"

One of my favorite accounts of the resurrected Lord in the New Testament is the account of the Savior speaking to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb. Mary had discovered the empty tomb and summoned several disciples in here fear that the Savior's body had been stolen. After the disciples have come and gone, Mary, devoted and loving Mary, remained at the tomb to mourn.

"But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." (JKV John 20:11-19)

I cannot help but think there are many things we can learn about the Savior and the Atonement through those sweet simple words, "why weepest thou?". It is so easy to imagine the angels and the Savior saying them with love and concern. Mary represents the broken hearted, the mournful, the sinful. She represents all who hurt and feel alone. The Savior and angels ask her the question they ask to all, why weepest thou?

Why Weepest Thou? A Message of Compassion

Because of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ we have a greater understanding of the Atonement. we know that the Savior has "borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53: 5)". He was sent to "heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4: 18)". We know that because of what he endured he understands our pain.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Alma 7:11-12)

Not only does He understand our pain of illness, heartbreak, loneliness, and sin, He knows how to succor us individually. In fact, He endured it so that He would be able to help us. After returning from my mission I struggled to adjust to normal life. I felt that everything I did was useless and had no real meaning or purpose. I became depressed and anxious. I couldn't be alone in my apartment at night without getting incredibly anxious. A few times I even had minor panic attacks. At the time I was serving as Relief Society president in my singles ward and was trying to serve those sisters as best as I could. I remember trying to explain how I was feeling and thought that no one really understood the panic and anxiety that I felt. One day I was slapped with the lie. I thought that no one knew the turmoil that I felt during those moments but I was so terribly wrong. I was forgetting the Atonement. It wasn't until then that I really understood the breadth of the Atonement. Christ knew exactly how I felt. I couldn't explain it to others but I didn't need to explain it to Him. He knew because He has felt it. Not something like it, precisely what I felt. Now I think about the Savior, in those moments of anxiety and depression, reaching out to me like He reached out to Mary, asking "Woman, why weepest thou?" He asks with compassion for us to reach out to Him so He can succor us. He may not remove the heartbreak, loneliness, despair, or illness but He can empathize and carry us through.

Why Weepest Thou? An Invitation

When Christ appeared to the distraught Mary, He asked "why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?" Christ is there for each of us, regardless of our different circumstances. He knows what we need and when we need it. However, He invites each of us to reach out and accept His help. He knew very well why Mary was crying and who she was looking for. He knew, yet He waited for her to express her need. Are we reaching out to the Savior when He asks why we weep? To whom do we turn to for help and relief? His invitation is an invitation to hope and healing. It is an invitation to cease our weeping and rejoice in the blessings and healing power of the Atonement.

We have no reason to weep for long through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Though the Savior asks His question to Mary with compassion, I think that He also asks it almost rhetorically. What need have we to weep because the Savior has "borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53: 4-5)