Read John 20:15-16. Circle the word(s) that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
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”).
Reflections on the Word.
“What’s going on?” “What happened?” Why are you crying? These are phrases that are frequently repeated when one walks into a crisis. It’s leads to telling the story again and again. One may be tired of repeating the story over and over to each person who comes into the room.
Mary was interrupted before she could answer their question. Jesus repeats the same question, “Women, why are you crying?” However, Jesus asked one additional question, “Who is that you are looking for?”
The implications of that second question assumes that this person has some pertinent information to what she was looking for? He may have some answers to her tears. I don’t know how Mary sensed that someone was behind her, but she turned around and saw this man standing beside or behind her.
She doesn’t hesitate to share what she was looking for. Her natural assumption was that he was the gardener as no one else would be up that early in the morning. She thought, “If anyone knows what has happened in the garden, it would be him!” She asked him whether she saw anyone taking the body or whether he moved the body. Perhaps, she may have thought the gardener may have move the body since this tomb was for someone else. This tomb was intended for Joseph, not Jesus. It is a reasonable assumption.
Sometimes when someone asks us, “What are you looking for we are annoyed with that question or that person. We don’t have time to explain what we are looking for and answering the question takes up our valuable time. We may even think, “You can’t help me find what I’m looking for. So, get of my way!”
The next time your spouse or friend asks you, “What are you looking for?”, don’t interpret it as a troublesome question. It is an offer of help. It’s their way of showing love and concern for you. It will take you less than two minutes to give a brief description of what you are looking for. Responding this way, you will now have two set of eyes to look for your missing item.
When you are in a hurry and can’t find your car keys, how do you respond when a family member asks you, “What are you looking for?” Are you annoyed or angry that they are taking up your valuable time or grateful that they want to help you find it? How do you respond when someone asks you, “Who or What are you looking for?”
-Kingston