Looking for Jesus in the Wrong Places

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic,[b] “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. – John 20: 1-2; 11-18
 
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” Mary cried out, distressed.

I imagine how she must have felt that long, sleepless night, waiting for daybreak. In the midst of her mourning and sorrow, she picked herself up off the floor, determined to honor the body of her crucified Lord. Her anguish as she walked to the tomb, preparing to look upon His body, lifeless and cold, somehow increased tenfold at the realization that there was no trace of Him left: no broken body to anoint, no pierced hands to hold, no face to caress one last time. Where could they have taken Him?

Was she overcome with fear? Doubt? Anger? Jesus was not where she expected Him to be! Everything about the last three days did not align with the last three years that she had known Him, followed Him, and loved Him. Where are you, Lord?

“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

How blinded by her despair she must have been! Here Jesus was standing before her, and she completely misses it.

How often do we not see Jesus because we expect Him to show up in all the wrong places? How often do we convince ourselves, “This is where He wants me!” and are surprised when He does not meet us there? How often do we miss out on His greater story because we are busy writing our own?

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’”

Oh, but to hear the sweet Saviour's voice, calling us by name, beckoning us to behold Him. That God would soften our hearts and open our eyes to seek and see Him even in the most unexpected places! And as He continues to shape our perspective, that we with Mary would exclaim in wonder and surrender: “Rabboni!” Teacher!