WHO ARE YOU LOOKING FOR

Today's reading: John 19-21

"Why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who are you looking for? She thought he was the gardener..." John 20:15 NLT

I cannot imagine the grief and angst Mary Magdalene was enduring that early Easter morning.

She had watched her Savior crucified on a cross after enduring hours and hours of suffering.

She had seen his body quickly removed from its place of execution and hastily wrapped for burial.

She had witnessed words spoken over the One she loved that she might never, ever forget.

And now? Now they have had the audacity 'to steal' his body!

Her emotions were so heavy and her vision was so blurred by tears that when Jesus spoke to her, she didn't recognize who he was.

While standing beside her He asked, Why are you crying?

As He stood before her He questioned, Who are you looking for?

She didn't need anyone other than Him--and yet she didn't see Him.

Do we do that?

Do we look past Jesus--the sacrifice He made for us, the perfect example He is for us, the One who loves us enough to die for us?

Do we overlook Him at work around us?

Do we tend to not recognize Him because His appearance doesn't match what we thought He might look like or the circumstances don't appear as we prayed they would be?

Do we not believe Him to be enough?

How often in this life are we in the presence of Jesus and still He has to ask us, Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?