Today’s Reading: John 20, Luke 24
WHO WAS SHE LOOKING FOR?
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” – John 20:1-2
Mary Magdalene returned to the empty tomb to look for Jesus, and Jesus appeared to her. If she ever struggled with feeling unloved and unimportant, I wonder if those feelings went away when Jesus chose her to be the first person He appeared to after His resurrection – even before returning to His Father. I can only imagine how this encounter with Jesus changed her life, just as our encounters with Christ are life-changing.
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.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. – John 20:11-18
WHO WAS HE LOOKING FOR?
Peter ran to the tomb and saw that Jesus was no longer inside. What was going through Peter’s mind as he stood inside the empty tomb? Was he reminded of his denial as he walked away in bewilderment? He had come looking for Jesus but he was nowhere to be found. There was so much he wanted to say — so much he wanted to apologize for. Perhaps his mind went back to the broken promises he had made to Jesus.
Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
“But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”
Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter – before the rooster crows tomorrow, you will deny three times that you even know me.” – John 13:36-38
I can guess how Peter felt at that moment, because I know what it feels like to regret something I have done or said, or to be ashamed of my lack of faith, or to miss an opportunity to represent Jesus in a situation. I know the feelings of guilt when the Holy Spirit tugs on my heart to do something and I freeze, the moment lost forever. I know all too well the feeling of realizing I have sinned and knowing I need Jesus’ forgiveness, even though I do not deserve it. Because Peter was an emotional and passionate man, I imagine he experienced all of this to a higher degree than I can comprehend.
WHO AM I LOOKING FOR?
Today, I challenge myself with the same question Jesus asked Mary — “Who are you looking for?” Am I looking for Jesus? Am I expecting Jesus to reveal Himself to me today? Am I expecting to hear from the Spirit, to encounter God’s presence in my life today? Am I following Jesus today with a willingness to serve Him? Do I live with the daily recognition that Jesus is alive and actively involved in my life?
Jesus is ready and willing to reveal Himself to us today but we will miss it if we do not expect it – if we live today without expectation that Jesus will personally reach out to us. Things will happen and we will call them coincidences. God’s blessings will pour out on our life and we will call ourselves “lucky”. Evidence of Jesus will be all around us and we will say, “I wish God would show Himself to me.” I don’t want to miss out on seeing God today.
Jesus, here I am with a heart willing to experience you today and to celebrate your Resurrection! Open my eyes to the ways in which you are working in my life and in the lives of those around you. Strengthen my faith and help me to see my value in you no matter how others define me. May you be glorified today in the lives of believers around the world as we celebrate the reality that you conquered death and we serve a Risen Savior! Amen.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR JESUS TODAY?
Who are you looking for today? Will you join me in walking into our day with confidence that Jesus will reveal Himself? Will you believe? And then, when we do experience Jesus today, let’s follow the same instructions He gave Mary and pass on the message to others – “I have seen the Lord!”