Patti Burris

John 20:11-18

¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. ¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). ¹⁷ Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus was not hiding from Mary, but she did not recognize Him until He said her name. He was not hiding from Mary and He does not hide from us. We search and search for the one thing that will fill that void inside of us and He is right in front of us waiting for us to recognize Him. We desperately try to find happiness and love through drugs, sex, alcohol, empty relationships, work, food, etc. and Jesus stands just behind us asking, “who are you looking for?” We try to find happiness and love in all the wrong places. All the while, we suffer from loneliness, broken hearts, grief, pain, depression, anxieties, fear and overwhelming exhaustion. We still run from the ONE THING that can fill us with joy, peace and love. Jesus is calling YOUR name right now. Put down whatever it is that is keeping you from hearing Him. Put down the drugs. Let go of the relationship that is leading you down the wrong road. Let go of whatever it is you are trying to fill the empty void with and focus on Jesus.

He is standing right behind you asking, “who are you looking for?” He is calling you by name and He loves YOU. Fill that emptiness with the one who loves you. His name is Jesus.