It is early Easter morning and I have been meditating in John 20 verses 11-18 about Mary weeping at the tomb of Jesus because she could not find his body. This year I have been particularly inspired by Mary’s intense desire to be near Jesus and by His marvelous response in understanding that longing.

Jesus, whom she does not recognize, stands beside her and as she is weeping, the angels ask her why she is crying. She replies: “Because they have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.” Then Jesus too asks: “Why are you crying?” and again He asks the same question He first asked the disciples as recorded in John chapter 1: “Who are you looking for?”

As she recognizes Him, He reassures her with these tremendous words that summarize His greatest desire for us:

“Go and find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to your Father and my Father, to my God and your God.” John 20:17

I am especially inspired by these words because they remind me that Jesus knows that we are a bewildered and searching people and that He is always present for the sincerely seeking heart. His longing is the same as ours ~ that we can be together always!

As you go about your days, I want to encourage you to keep in the forefront of your thinking that everyone you meet is most likely searching with that same longing to know that there is a God, and that He wants to be a Father to us, both now and throughout eternity.

“I have made thy name known to them, and will make it known to them; that the love wherewith Thou doest love Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26

May your love for Jesus grow more and more and may that love draw many more back to Him as He longs for their fellowship too.

Gratefully your friend,

Carol