Waiting for Resurrection
In the midst of our deepest sorrows, Christ is waiting for resurrection, and our sorrows can be made bright by the joys of God.
Charles E. Cowman reflects on the grief and sorrow of Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they sat by the sepulchre of Jesus, highlighting how grief can blind us to the potential of resurrection and new beginnings that lie ahead. He emphasizes that just as Christ's resurrection brought new life from their loss, our deepest sorrows may also hold the seed of resurrection and blessings. Cowman encourages listeners to see beyond their current struggles, recognizing that where there seems to be death and hopelessness, Christ is present, ready to bring forth new life and joy.
Text
"And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre"
(Matt. 27:61).
How strangely stupid is grief. It neither learns nor knows nor wishes to learn or know. When the sor rowing sisters sat over against the door of God's sepulchre, did they see the two thousand years that have passed triumphing away? Did they see any thing but this: "Our Christ is gone!"
Your Christ and my Christ came from their loss; Myriad mourning hearts have had resurrection in the midst of their grief; and yet the sorrowing watchers looked at the seed-form of this result, and saw nothing. What they regarded as the end of life was the very preparation for coronation; for Christ was silent that He might live again in tenfold power.
They saw it not. They mourned, they wept, and went away, and came again, driven by their hearts to the sepulchre. Still it was a sepulchre, unprophetic, voiceless, lusterless.
So with us. Every man sits over against the sepulchre in his garden, in the first instance, and says, "This woe is irremediable. I see no benefit in it. I will take no comfort in it." And yet, right in our deepest and worst mishaps, often, our Christ is lying, waiting for resurrection.
Where our death seems to be, there our Saviour is. Where the end of hope is, there is the brightest beginning of fruition. Where the darkness is thickest, there the bright beaming light that never is set is about to emerge. When the whole experience is consummated, then we find that a garden is not disfigured by a sepulchre. Our joys are made better if there be sorrow in the midst of them. And our sorrows are made bright by the joys that God has planted around about them. The flowers may not be pleasing to us, they may not be such as we are fond of plucking, but they are heart-flowers, love, hope, faith, joy, peace--these are flowers which are planted around about every grave that is sunk in the Christian heart.
"'Twas by a path of sorrows drear
Christ entered into rest;
And shall I look for roses here,
Or think that earth is blessed?
Heaven's whitest lilies blow
From earth's sharp crown of woe.
Who here his cross can meekly bear,
Shall wear the kingly purple there."
Sermon Outline
- I. Grief and Resurrection
- A. Grief can be blind to the possibility of resurrection
- B. Our Christ can rise from our loss
- C. Resurrection can come in the midst of grief
- II. The Sepulchre of Our Lives
- A. We often see only the end of life, not the preparation for coronation
- B. Christ can be silent, waiting for resurrection
- III. Finding Christ in Our Sorrow
- A. Christ is present in our deepest and worst mishaps
- B. Our Saviour is waiting for resurrection in our death
- IV. The Beauty of Sorrow
- A. Sorrow can be made bright by the joys of God
- B. Flowers of love, hope, faith, joy, and peace can bloom around our graves
Key Quotes
“''Twas by a path of sorrows drear Christ entered into rest;” — Charles E. Cowman
“Heaven's whitest lilies blow From earth's sharp crown of woe.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Who here his cross can meekly bear, Shall wear the kingly purple there.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We should not expect roses in our life, but rather the flowers of love, hope, faith, joy, and peace that bloom around our graves.
- We can find Christ in our sorrow, and He is present in our deepest and worst mishaps, waiting for resurrection.
- Our death is where our Saviour is, and it is the preparation for coronation and resurrection.