Whom Do You Seek?

Conversation with person at a wedding or a funeral, I’ll always find a well intended person who finds my profession admirable.

If I wasn’t sure my Lord said to do this, I wouldn’t do it.

But I get it. Christianity is often billed as a hobby or a passion. To others, it’s a good thing to do with time.

Some people calm themselves with a cup of tea and a book. Same with religious people. We read a book, sing songs and feel better.

My son goes to a Christian school, and he always has. But, there are plenty of parents who are not Christians who put their kids into Christian school. Why do they do this? Because, it teaches good morals and values.

This is the same reason those parents put their kid into intermural sports. Why do they do this?

“Well, it teaches them good values. Teamwork, leadership and practice.” Here is what they say “I know he probably won’t play in the NFL, but at least he will learn.” That’s the same reason atheists put their kids in Christian schools. “I know my child probably won’t become a monk, but at least he will learn good values.”

This is how we treat religion. Whether or not it’s real, its good for me. Sing songs, read beautiful words, think about the universe. Yes, that’s good.

Even if Jesus never rose from the grave, perhaps his followers would think about him this way. He was a nice guy, a good teacher, He even did some miracles.

Except, today, some women Jesus healed came to his tomb to honor him in death. And the tomb was empty.

Pray.

1. Religion as Usual

1.1. First thing to understand is that Mary loved her Messiah.

Jewish thought at time about 3 days being with them. Ancient world had paid mourners. Not Mary and the other women. She was there before the crack of dawn.

Why did Mary love Jesus so much as to take the risk and go?

Luke 8:2 ESV

2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

Jesus says about Mary of Bethany:

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

1.2 Mary, like everyone, believes Jesus is religion as she knew it.

“Jesus is just like all the other religious people I’ve met”

Mary expected Jesus to be like all the other religious people around her.

In the ancient world, religion was everywhere and used to explain what they saw. In that way, their religion wasn’t really supernatural at all. It was a science. It helped to explain what they already saw. Storms were storm gods. Harvest was a harvest God.

John 20:1–2 ESV

1 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.”

John 20:11–15 ESV

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.”

For example, look at Martha and Mary, Lazarus’ sisters:

John 11:21–25 ESV

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

John 11:39–40 ESV

39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Blank: It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows. - Epictetus

John 11:43–44 ESV

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Application: this is how religion works for the rest of the world.

Karl Marx said “religion is the opiate of the masses”. Or the great panacea- the cure all for confusion and death.

Now, you would think I would totally disagree with the names sake of Marxism, but I largely agree with him. Most people do use religion that way. After all, around 70% of the world isn’t Christian, and even many of the Christians follow a religious kind of Jesus.

Many Christians say things like Martha or Mary from our story would. They know God is good and heaven is real. They’re betting on Christianity to be true. But to them it’s a “one day” religion.

One day: I’ll be healed. I’ll know Jesus. I’ll go to heaven.

Until then, Christianity is just a gamble. “We’ll see when we get there”, we say.

The practical atheism that most people believe God is good. But- they say in their heart “I know God is good, just not for me, not right now”.

This is Mary’s state. Maybe it’s yours, too.

2. Unexpected Joy

2.1 Mary did not recognize Jesus

John 20:15 ESV

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.”

Two things to clarify here:

A. Woman is respectful, like ma’am.

B. Jesus is not in a new form.

Luke 24:16 ESV

16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Other examples of being prevented from seeing:

Emmaus Road disciples in Luke 24. They did not recognize Him at first.

John 21:6 “6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.”

But other times He is immediately recognized.

Thomas and the other apostles

John 20:29 “29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.””

It isn’t that Jesus looks different at all. It’s that He chooses how they will see Him.

2.2 The folly of mourning the living

John 20:12–13 ESV

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.”

The Angels point out a very good question here. They look out of the entrance and see a woman with tears down her face. This is a new tomb. Jesus was the only one who was here and now he’s gone.

What is she doing up there? Why is she crying? In a sense, they’re saying:

Ma’am, you have the wrong tomb.

Jesus does the same:

John 20:14–15 ESV

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.”

Jesus puts a point on His question. Mary is crying, but why? Because it can’t be for Him!

Story about Dave and Busters. The kid’s innocence and our worry.

We often think that joy is a result of innocence. Of “not knowing how the world works”.

That is the cynical thought of the world. If you knew what was really happening, your smiles wouldn’t be so big.

Except with Mary, that isn’t true. She thought she knew how the world works. Even good men like Jesus die, etc…

Mary cried because she thought she knew too much. But she was wrong, she cried because she didn’t know enough!

Blank: The world is sorrowful because it doesn’t know enough.

John 20:16–18 ESV

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “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.

Jesus says her name, and now she sees Him. Not by sight, but she hears her master’s voice first. The first voice she would have heard years ago, when He cast out demons from her. The God of the universe stands before her, and knows her name. And she yells his name and grabs him by the feet.

True, vibrant faith in Jesus produces incredible joy. The people I know who are closest to Jesus, may have bad days, but there is an unshakable joy to them. In fact, if I meet a grouchy Christians; the ones who makes it their mission to complain, I sometimes wonder if they know Jesus.

Why? Because they must not have heard the good news.

Jesus died for their sins, and rose again. What could ever outweigh that?

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

(Musicians come up)

Transition:

The disciples became a totally transformed community after the resurrection. At the cross of Jesus stood a few women, Mary the mother of Jesus, and John. Zechariah 13:7 “...Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.”

But then, after the resurrection, these people were transformed. They can’t keep quiet. Peter denied Jesus to avoid getting arrested before. But now he’s street preaching. He even gets crucified for his belief.

I used to think Christians, at least the serious ones were weird. Why are Christians so weird? Because it’s all true! How can you be casual?

3. What this Means for You

A lot of religions make truth claims. They’ll tell you this or that way is the way to live. How would you know which is true or the best to follow?

Theres an old pastor story we use a lot.

Imagine you come across two paths. on both paths are men holding signs that their way is safe. Except one of them is dead. Who should I believe? The one who is alive.

See, if Jesus is alive, everything changes.

This isn’t an isolated miracle. Jesus rose from the grave like He said He would. That means the other things He said are also true.

John 6:37–40 ESV

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Invitation

To unbelievers: repent and believe the Son of God who defeated death.

To Christians: give up half-hearted, weak, grumbling faith and embrace reality. Your Lord lives.