Eyes on Him
“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’” (John 15: 20, NIV).
Yesterday was Easter, which for me, means the Savior I believe in - the one who came to save us from ourselves - died for us and rose after the third day of being in the grave. And because of that monumental day, I can be with Him forever when I die.
It’s the same for all of us, which is the most unbelievable part of Jesus’ life and calling. He died for every one of us, all over the world, because He loved us that much.
I think often of the morning of the day he rose. The women who had been a part of His tribe were slugging along, numb to the world around them. They had probably cried their eyes out and were so incredibly grief-stricken over the last 48 hours that just keeping their swollen eyes open was the trickiest part of their day.
When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, she was so distraught that she didn’t recognize Him. She thought He was the gardener (which I kind of love, actually. Master Gardener, this Jesus.)
She was so distraught that the two angels, angels who usually stricken those who saw them, didn’t stricken her. She was intent on finding out why “they took her Lord away.” (John 20:10-16, NIV). Until Jesus got her attention. Then she realized He had been right beside her.
Grief causes us to lose sight of what’s important. If she’d been thinking clearly, she would’ve recalled all the times Jesus told her and his disciples that He would die but return in a few days. It should’ve been an anticipatory time, knowing He would come back! They should’ve been happy. Instead, they wallowed in despair, uncertain of how to go on because their swollen eyes were off of Him and instead on their circumstances.
Like Mary, we too have to take our eyes off our problem and return them to Jesus. He’s right there, right next to us, willing to take our grief and carry it for us.
Finch Food for Thought: If He cared enough to appear to grieving Mary, he cares enough to appear to you. Eyes off the problem and onto Him.