Who Do You Want?

Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” - John 2:0:12-14

As we reflect on the Easter story today, take some time with these insights from our partner over at SanctifiedArt (we’ve loved having some of their paintings during the last six weeks!). What might God be saying to you today through these words?

Mary sees only in her grief, and only through the lens of tragedy….

“Who do you want?”

What an interesting question. Of all the versions of Jesus out there, which one do you believe? For which Jesus are you crying? Who do you want?

I believe the world heard the glad tidings of Easter because her answer revealed her wholehearted love of Jesus— beyond teacher, beyond healer, beyond savior. For Mary, Jesus truly became fully God and fully human. She loved all of him, because through him she had experienced a love that embraced all of her. This is the wholeness that heals the world and brings us into eternal life.

What would it look like for us to see Jesus as he is? Not merely as we want him to be, or even need him to be, but in the fullness of his glory—fully human and fully God? What would it mean for us to love him with our whole hearts, and live for him from that wholeheartedness?

She loved all of him, because through him she had experienced a love that embraced all of her. This is the wholeness that heals the world and brings us into eternal life. - Rev. Danielle Shroyer