ESOCS Devotional 13 April 2021
TEXT: JOHN 20:11-23
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me were thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” John 20:15 KJV
Notice Jesus’ question to Mary in verse 15: “Whom seekest thou?” But get this: The person Mary was seeking was not the person she found. She wasn’t seeking this man in the garden who conquered death, sin, and Satan; who is the world’s Savior and rules the universe as king. No! She was seeking the corpse of a dearly departed friend. The Jesus she found was so much more than the Jesus she was looking for when she went to the tomb that morning.
And if you haven’t found Jesus yet as your Savior and Lord, be rest assured He will be so much more than you’re looking for. He is our greatest treasure. In fact, Jesus tells a couple of short parables about this in Matthew 13:44-46: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” The point is, if we understand the resurrection, Jesus ought to be our greatest treasure without even a close second.
But as we walk, Jesus asks us the same question that He asked Mary Magdalene by the tomb: “Whom are you seeking?” Amid the suffering we experience and encounter around us each day, it is easy to miss the signs and affirmations that Jesus is alive and with us today. Like Mary, who returned to the tomb to search for her Lord, we too must eagerly look for where Jesus is walking. If we have open eyes and hearts to see, we can find his footprints among us: in the comfort and healing given to the sick; in the encouragement given to those struggling with depression; in the transformation of hardened criminals; and in unexpected reconciliation between old enemies.
Whom do we seek? Is it truly the Christ, or are other things more important to us? Success, education, security, comfort, pleasures, or even good causes – has any of these become more important than Jesus? His way is a way of suffering and sacrifice; yet, it is the only way that truly brings peace, healing, and new life. Through His great love and compassion, Jesus will draw all people to Himself, into His heavenly kingdom. It is by accepting our cross, as Jesus did, that we find meaning in life and are led to true freedom and peace of conscience, and ultimately to the victory of life even in death. And it is by staying close to the foot of His cross that we will find our Lord, find each other, and find eternal peace.
Jesus tells us, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
What is that thing you are seeking for in Christ? What steps have you taken to ensure you find Him?
PRAYER POINT
Ask God to help you seek Him with all your heart, mind, and soul.
FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 5:1-2; Matthew 6:33
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ESOCS Devotional 13 April 2021
