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Who Is It You Are Looking For?
Victoria Boyson
www.victoriaboyson.com
Mary Magdalene was one who truly loved Jesus. To her, He was not just the Savior of the world He was her friend. To this woman, who had lived a difficult and rejected existence, He represented hope. He represented the only faithfulness and love she had ever know; Jesus was the only one who had treated her with care and respect. He made her feel she really mattered to Him. Instead of seeking what He could take from her, He set her free from all bondage she had endured in her life and then poured His life into her. So she loved Him.
When Jesus was crucified and buried, it was Mary who woke before the sun to run to His tomb (see John 20:1). And with her heart crushed it was she who stayed by His tomb crying when His body could not be found.
When the two angels stationed at the tomb asked her why she was crying, she replied, "They have taken my Lord away and I don't know where they have put him" (John 20:13).
The sight of the angels before her didn't stun her. Undeniably, her only thought was for her Lord. Can you imagine her pain? Her only Friend, the only One Who truly loved her and gave her hope was singled out and killed and she'd lost Him. She was desperately unhappy and when Jesus appeared to her, she did not recognize Him. Overcome by emotion she, broke down and wept uncontrollably.
As Jesus was overwhelmed by her heartfelt display, He spoke to her. "'Woman,' He said, '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'" (John. 20:14-15).
She had seen Him, the One she loved, brutally tortured and killed. She had watched in a state of shock and despair as the unthinkable happened. In her bewilderment, she endured the countless questions in her mind as He suffered. Is
this what He meant when He said something would happen to Him? Was this what He was talking about?
Through the agony of her mind, she wondered if it were all just a bad dream. He had helped so many. How could
they possibly kill Him? She couldn't make her mind think or let her self reason; all she knew was that the One she loved was dying. Then suddenly, He was gone. How could she go on without Him?
Mary carried all
her heartache with her to the tomb on that Sunday morning as she rushed there the very moment it was permitted. And when she arrived, she found more heartache still...His body was missing.
She wanted to hold Him and
care for Him as He had cared for her. Now even this she could not do - she could not even find His body. This was too much for her to take; she could no longer bear it. Under the weight of her grief, she broke down and
wept.
In her broken desperation, she cried to the man she thought was the gardener. "Sir, where is He?"
Drawn by Her Passion
Jesus had yet to present Himself to His Father, but He
felt Mary's cries of despair, so, He went first to comfort her. To Mary, a simple soul who'd known very little but heartache in life, He would show Himself to first. He had not seen His Heavenly Father nor His own
mother, yet His heart responded to the despondent cries of a woman whose heart was in desperate pursuit of Him.
She did not recognize Him...so He asked her, "Who is it you are looking for?" (v.15).
He knew who she was looking for; He did not need to ask her. Her passionate grief for Him was what had drawn Him to her, and Jesus wanted to hear her say it. He wanted to hear Who it was she was searching for. He wanted to hear her say the words, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him" (v.15).
How her words must have revived Him; He went from the arms of His accusers to the passionate pursuit of His friend. He could no longer hold back His compassion for her and He revealed Himself to her.
"'Mary' He said.
'Rabboni!' she cried."
She had searched for His lifeless body, but now she finds Him whole. Mary is transformed from desperation and agony to exuberant joy! She had found the One whom her soul longed for.
In her passion, she lunged at Him, embracing Him. But Jesus grabbed her and said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father"(v.17). But she couldn't help it. The dark night she had lived through had passed and a bright morning had come in its place.
"I will be Found by You"
The Lord is looking for those who are passionately seeking Him, whose hearts are fully devoted to Him, who dearly love Him. He is desperately looking for those like Mary who are
in desperate pursuit of Him and who want to be with Him. When He finds one who is passionately seeking Him, their love for Him becomes a fragrance He is drawn to and He promises to reveal Himself to
them.
"'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:13-14).
Beloved, the One your heart longs for will come to you! Turn your eyes toward Him; He is desperate for you. And you will see how truly amazing His love is for you and how much He desires to pour His life into you.
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