Who Are You Looking For?

Read

John 20:15 "He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’"

Think

In the early morning darkness, Mary Magdalene stood outside the empty tomb, her heart shattered by grief. The one she had followed, loved, and placed her hope in was gone—crucified and buried. And now, even his body was missing. Tears blurred her vision as she searched desperately, until a voice broke through her sorrow: “Who are you looking for?”

At first, she thought it was the gardener. She wasn’t expecting to see Jesus because, in her mind, he was still dead. But then, he called her by name—“Mary.” And in that moment, everything changed. The one she thought was lost was standing right in front of her, alive.

That question—“Who are you looking for?”—isn’t just for Mary. It’s for all of us. Whether we realize it or not, our hearts are always searching. We look for peace in success, for purpose in relationships, for security in money, for love in places that will never fully satisfy. But the answer we seek isn’t found in what the world offers—it’s found in a person. Jesus.

C. S. Lewis wrote, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” The longing we feel, the ache that no accomplishment or relationship can fill, is meant to lead us to him.

Today, take a moment to ask yourself: Who or what am I truly seeking? Throughout Scripture those who seek the Lord with all their heart find him—not as a distant figure, but as a personal, present Savior. If our search is for success, comfort, or approval, we will always come up empty. But when we seek Jesus, we find the One who knows us, loves us, and satisfies every longing. He is not hiding; he is calling us by name, just as he did with Mary.

Apply

Share what you’ve found. Just like Mary ran to tell the disciples, take a moment to encourage someone today. Share how Jesus has met you in your search.

Pray

Lord, I come to you with an open heart, searching for what only you can give. So often, I look for peace, purpose, and fulfillment in places that leave me empty. But today, I choose to seek you. Help me to recognize your presence, to hear your voice, and to trust that you are all I need. Thank you for calling me by name and for always being near. In Jesus’ name. Amen.