Tears at the Empty Tomb? - From His Heart - April 21, Encouragement from Jeff Schreve

Tears at the Empty Tomb? - From His Heart - April 21

April 21, 2024

TEARS AT THE EMPTY TOMB?

"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?”

You see, Resurrection Sunday was not a day for tears, but a day for cheers. The Lord was not dead! He was alive … and is alive forevermore! When He came out of that tomb, He defeated death, hell, and the grave. His resurrection proved that there is no problem too big for Him. He is more than able to handle our sins, our sorrows, and our setbacks.

HIS QUESTION TO YOU

Maybe you are heavy-hearted today. Maybe life has kicked you in the teeth, and your hopes have been crushed by unwanted and unwarranted circumstances. Maybe your eyes are filled with tears, and your heart is filled with fears. You don’t know what to do or how to go on.

Jesus sweetly asks you, “Why are you weeping? Why are you acting as if I am dead and gone? Why are you standing there without hope when I am the God of hope? Why are you not able to see that I am able?

The reason we weep is because we don’t see Him in the midst of our pain and grief. We are so focused on the perceived enormity of our problems that we fail to see He is far greater than anything our minds can imagine.

So dry your eyes and begin to praise Him! Let the resurrected Christ arise in you, and your enemies be scattered (Psalm 68:1). There is no need to live in hopelessness, despair, and sorrow. Jesus can turn every Calvary into an Easter, every mountain of a problem into a miracle of provision.

Your Lord is alive and well. Live out that truth! He is not dead, He is risen… and there is nothing in your life that He cannot accomplish as you look to Him and trust Him!

Love,

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries

Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.

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About From His Heart

From His Heart Ministries is the TV, Radio and Internet broadcast outreach of Dr. Jeff Schreve who believes that no matter how badly you have messed up in life, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We’re on mission to help a new generation discover their creator through the preaching of the compassionate, relevant, yet uncompromised truth of the Gospel. Pastor Jeff speaks the truth in love with clear biblical content combined with engaging, personal stories. His messages are filled with life-giving principles for everyday living and eternal assurance.

On Television: From His Heart is seen each week on Lightsource and also around the world on The Hillsong Channel, NRBTV, The Walk TV, and hundreds of TV stations across America and around the world. Go to Click Here to find the station near you.

On Radio:Click Here to listen to the daily radio broadcast available on OnePlace.com as well as 720+ outlets across America.

About Dr. Jeff Schreve

Jeff's life has been radically changed by Jesus Christ.
Growing up in a church-going home, Jeff learned a lot about God, but he did not know God. He believed in Jesus in the same way he believed in George Washington: he knew Jesus was real, but had not personally met Him. All this changed one night after a Young Life meeting when he was alone in his bedroom. There Jeff saw his need for Christ and His forgiveness and surrendered his life to Jesus.

As a student at the University of Texas, Jeff grew in his Christian life. He graduated with a degree in business and moved back home to Houston, Texas to start a career in business. There he met his future wife, Debbie, at a single's group meeting at Champion Forest Baptist Church. They were married in 1986 and have been blessed with a wonderful relationship and three awesome daughters and two beautiful grandchildren.

A New Direction
After spending 13 years as a chemical salesman, God called Dr. Schreve to preach. He left his secure position and moved his family to North Carolina to attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a scary and difficult move to make ... but it was one of the best decisions they have ever made. One year later, God called them to serve on staff at Champion Forest Baptist Church. In 2000, he completed his Master of Divinity degree graduating from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2014 from Southeastern Seminary.

Jeff Schreve has been the senior Pastor of First Baptist Texarkana in 2003, a growing and exciting church with 4500+ members.