Looking for Jesus (John 20:11-18)

They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Mary was looking for Jesus. She wanted to see him, even if he was wrapped in cloth. She just wanted to be near him. So she went to where she thought he would be, and he was not there, at least not in the form she thought he would be.

Jesus was quietly, patiently standing right beside her, and she had no idea. She couldn’t see him even though she was looking for him. She was not going to find him no matter how hard she tried. She needed him to open her eyes.

So then Jesus called her name and instantly she knew that it was him the whole time.

Just because we look for Jesus does not mean we see him… right away. He is by your side, it just might be in the form of a gardener.