‘For Whom Do You Seek?”

I had a professor in Seminary who came in and sat with the class as we were settling in the first day. He was a grad student assigned to teach a class on the culture of Christianity, so he looked like the rest of us—and he didn’t sit at the desk where we thought the professor would start out. Suffice it to say, we all said some pretty embarrassing things. We were looking for a professor. But we didn’t know who we were looking for.

The same holds true for disciples seeking Jesus, both then and now.

The passage today reveals the search for Jesus on the first Easter morning. Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower of Jesus was the apostle to the apostles. She was probably not Mary of Bethany, or the prostitute later traditions claim she was. The Da Vinci Code identifies her as the mother of Jesus’s child. I recommend sturdier stuff for your theological reading than a fictional account based on traditions that come 1300 years after the fact.

We also find Peter in what he thought would be his last search for Christ. He began his search when his brother described the teaching of a brilliant young rabbi. Andrew told his brother to “come and see.” Peter, quite often, didn’t understand what he saw, but he didn’t give up.

The last seeker in this passage is believed to be John, who is referred to with reverence by the disciples who recorded his account. John looked and saw and believed.

Each of these disciples came with some expectations. Each was surprised by what was to be found at the tomb. Each was surprised to discover that the promises of Jesus had been fulfilled. But it took time.

At the tomb, Mary Magdalene was looking for the dead body of her teacher. And didn’t find what she sought. In Luke’s version of this passage, angelic messengers ask why she seeks the Living One in a cemetery.

Peter was looking for … heck, we don’t know what Simon Peter was looking for—but he was looking. All he found were grave linens and folded cloths.

John was looking for his dead teacher, his deceased friend, and found the greatest lesson of his life.

Later, both Peter and Mary Magdalene would join John in finding something more significant than that which they sought. In fact, Mary would remain outside the tomb while the others went home. She would encounter the risen Christ, and she would become the apostle to the apostles: the one who was sent to the ones who would be sent.

Finding Jesus was never a simple proposition. Scripture is filled with disciples bearing wrong-headed notions of who Jesus was supposed to be.

The gathered crowds of Passover welcomed Jesus as a King, for that was what they sought. A king would return their national identity and sense of worth.

The priests and scribes could only see an upstart and arrogant teacher out to demolish traditions and upset their status quo. They never listened long enough to hear the truth.

The Sanhedrin sought him as a treasonous criminal, and saw only a traitor to Caesar and a threat to their power. The majority of them weren’t interested in truth, only the exercise of power.

It’s interesting how each group expected Jesus to be who they wanted him to be. None but those who dropped their masks and entered into the presence of Christ were able to finally see Jesus for who he really was.

Even Judas missed his guess. Judas, the betrayer of Christ, was a zealot who sought a divinely-powered messiah to overthrow the Roman occupation. Before the crucifixion, all Judas could see was a secret weapon, a trump card who would defeat the Roman legions as soon as his divine person had been sullied by an arrest. After the crucifixion, all Judas could see was his beloved teacher and friend, betrayed to ruthless men who murdered him.

Judas was filled with remorse and could see no other way to atone for his sin but to take his life. He saw no hope, only despair. Before the Cross, he thought he was doing the right thing. Afterwards, he thought he had done the worst thing. He was wrong both times.

If only Judas had waited twenty-four hours. That twenty-four hours would have changed everything. Had he waited, he would have learned that the tomb was empty. Had he waited he would have learned that Jesus was appearing to the disciples. Had he waited, he could have fallen at Jesus feet and asked for mercy, and received it. Can you imagine Jesus holding Judas in his arms and saying, “I understand Judas; and what you intended for evil, God used for good. I forgive you Judas, now go and feed my sheep.” Can you imagine the impact Judas would have had for Christ and the kingdom of God; had he just waited for twenty-four hours?

Jesus knew that so many of his disciples would have to take a second, or third, or fourth look in order to see who he was. Some look again and again and again. It takes time. There is much to see.

Now: For whom do you seek?

If you are looking for a wise teacher, you’ll find him. The teachings of Jesus call for radical life change. Many find Jesus to be a radical nut when first perusing his sayings. “Sell all you own and give the money to the poor.” That’s crazy.

But take a second look, and you’ll see that Jesus was showing us that there is more to life than money. He was so much more than just a wise Jewish teacher. But even the wisest teachings of Jesus were practically opaque until the Cross. Jesus had to show us the full meaning of sacrifice before his teachings became clear.

Do you seek a risen Savior? You’ll find Him. On the cross, Jesus ended the reign of sin. At the resurrection, Jesus defeated death once and for all. But if you simply cling to the promise of eternal life and delay your entry into the kingdom of heaven, you’ll miss the chance to make a difference through the life-changing teachings of Christ.

Today’s passage ends with the telling statement, “No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.” Mary didn’t understand, not until the Risen Christ called her by name. Peter, the successor to Christ as the leader of the Church didn’t understand. John believed, but didn’t yet know what to do with his beliefs.

Once you’ve found Jesus, you must seek to find the entire meaning of Christ. Just as his teaching was meaningless without the Cross, the full meaning of Christ himself is can only be revealed by the coming of the Holy Spirit, promised by Christ on the day of Ascension. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

If you came here not knowing for whom you were seeking, take comfort in the fact that none of the Disciples fully realized Jesus’ identity until it was revealed to them. But still, they gave it their best shot.

Seek him while you have the chance. But seek carefully. Be careful that  you don’t inflict your expectations upon Christ. And be prepared for Christ to offer his expectations of you.

Like so many questions in life, only you can answer this one. “For whom do you seek?” I pray that the answer is Christ, and I pray that you find what you need most.