Day 47 – In the Garden: Not the Gardener

“Woman, He said, ‘why are you crying? Who are you 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 20:15). 

After spending time with Christ, she didn’t recognize the Lord. Why? She had come to the tomb expecting to see Him. We all know people in different situations, from work, the neighborhood, or the family. Pastors get to know each other because they sit in the same row, the same set, every Sunday. If the pastor runs into some of those same people at the grocery store on Thursday afternoon, he is likely to draw a blank because they are out of context.  

Jesus was not in the place she expected to find Him. She had been distraught over yesterday’s events. She spent last night weeping, overcome with emotion. The main reason she could not was that He had not revealed Himself to her. This was the same tactile approach He had with the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). There was an essential truth He was teaching. She had to learn that He is always present, even when He is invisible to the naked eye. We have to be able to process this truth in our journey of life. God is often closer to us when we are going through a dark valley. We think we are left alone, but He has not abandoned us. It is then that we need our eyes open to see what the Lord wants us to learn. And just because we don’t see Him, doesn’t mean He isn’t there.  

The question asked is “Who are you looking for?” not “What are you looking for?” That is a different question. Mary was looking for what – a dead body. She was looking for something; Jesus pointed her to someone. The answer to our deepest needs is not something, but someone, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

On this joyful Resurrection Morning, we celebrate because Jesus lives today. 

He IS RISEN! 

HIS IS RISEN INDEED! 

 Open our eyes, Lord Jesus, to see You as You truly are. We are glad that death has been defeated. May our hearts overflow with RESURRECTION joy. Amen.