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Confused and Searching

John 20:1-4
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (NIVUK)

It was still dark.  Before the dawn of the first Easter day, Mary Magdalene (with other women (Luke 24:1-4)) went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid.  She had a shock!  The heavy circular stone (probably an old millstone) which had covered the entrance had gone!  Instead, the cave-tomb was open!  Scared and confused, Mary ran back to Peter and John.  She had assumed that the body of Jesus had been taken by the authorities, even though Pilate had ordered that the tomb should be sealed and guarded (Matthew 27:62-66).
 
The two young fishermen wasted no time.  They ran fast towards the burial place, but John got there ahead of Peter.  In one way they were together in a team; but they were also individually eager to find Jesus, even though Peter had denied his Lord.  There was so much confusion in them following the crucifixion; and then there was another twist in the story because the stone had been rolled away.  But where was Jesus?

The women did not know.  Perhaps the two men thought they could find Him.  They certainly put all their effort into it.  So they ran towards Jesus – or at least where they thought the body of Jesus should be.  Little did they understand that He was coming to find them ... Mary Magdalene first (John 20:11-17) who then took the good news of the resurrection to the disciples (John 20:18), who saw Him for themselves the same evening (John 20:19-20).
 
Because we are made in the image of God, and the Son of God is our Creator, we all have a deep instinct to find Him.  Many people have suppressed that instinct by substituting other gods in a vain attempt to stabilise their personal insecurity: the search for life’s meaning is relentless.   And although many do not know it is Him they are seeking, He gives them the opportunity to find Him (Romans 10:20).  All around us, people are hungry for God but do not know that Jesus is alive and coming to find them.  It is good to seek the Lord earnestly.  Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  The task of the church (all the people who believe in Jesus) is to tell seekers where to look!  They need to find Jesus, because He is the Way to God ... and He is alive!  Introduce your friends to Him through www.crosscheck.org.uk.

Prayer 
Father God. Thank You that people can come to You without fear or confusion as they welcome Jesus. Forgive me for having kept Him as a secret rather than sharing the gospel with others. Please help me to see people around me who do not know Jesus as being hungry for Him although they do not know it. And show me how best to introduce them to my Saviour. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams