July 25, 2025

In John 20:15, Jesus asks Mary, “Whom are you seeking?”

Earlier that morning Mary had gone to the tomb where Jesus’s body had been laid after the crucifixion and found it empty. While she had been at the tomb looking for Jesus, she first found two angels. In the Gospel of John, they simply ask her why she is weeping. In the account given in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the angels also proclaim to her that He, Jesus, is risen.

Nonetheless, even after hearing all that Jesus had said about who He was and what would happen, she was determined to find His dead body. 

In John the most curious thing happens, Jesus Himself appears, and specifically asks her why she is weeping and who she is seeking. Then, even as the one she is looking for has appeared in front of her, Mary replies that she is still looking for her expectation of the dead body of Jesus.  She could not see Him past her idea of what she expected to see. 

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We know that Jesus knows all things (John 21:17), so it is safe to say that Jesus did not ask Mary who she was seeking for His own information and because He was unaware of the situation. Instead, He asked for another reason. Why would Jesus, knowing Mary was looking for Him, ask her who she was seeking?

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Only the Lord knows the depth of the purpose, but one thing is clear, Mary was so determined to find who she thought she was looking for. She was unable to see the real Jesus right in front of her, even as He was talking to her. It was not until He called her name that she saw the truth, recognized Him, and believed He was who He said He was. 

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This brief interaction holds deep insight into faith in Christ. She could not see Him for who He was until He called her and opened her eyes. She was looking for Jesus where she thought He was, not where He said he would be. Then, Jesus specifically finds her and appears to her in her desperate seeking, not leaving her in distress and searching, but opening her eyes to the truth. 

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As we walk on the narrow path, we need to ask ourselves, who are we seeking? Are we looking for our idea of how Jesus should work in the world and the way He should appear? Are we limiting Christ to the confines of our desires, understanding, level of faith, and imagination? Or are we seeking His word and looking to see Him as He says He is?

Are we looking for God in the grave, or risen to life? Do we desperately seek Him, knowing He is our only hope even if we don’t understand? And do we trust that he is able to reveal himself to us despite the ways we do not fully see who he is now? 

 

Whom are you seeking?