John 20:15-16
"Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher)."
Bible Reading for a Year: Psalm112; Luke 24; Judges 11-12
On the first day when Jesus rose, Mary Magdalene and other women visited Jesus’ grave. They, who has been so frustrated due to Jesus’ death, started to be sad again because they did not find the body of Jesus in the grave. Some of them ran to Jesus’ disciples to tell the bitter truth. But Mary remained cry while staring at the linen cloths and place where Jesus had been lying.
Mary was so sad because she could not find the body of Jesus that she was not able too recognize Jesus when He appeared and greeted her. However, Jesus called Mary compassionately, perhaps with intonation and voice that Mary was familiar with. Mary, of course, was so surprised because she could recognize the voice of the man before her. “Rabboni”, that was the word she spoke. Yes, the man talking to her was the Rabboni, God, and person she loved and adored so much.
Many times we are like Mary—we focus too much on our problems and grief, that even though we are looking for God, we cannot recognize His presence in our life. But God always has ways to have our attention and look at His face and listen to His voice. Sometimes, as what He did to Mary—called her gently—or through the way that is uncomfortable to us.
However, if only we do not focus on our problems, of course the process is unnecessary, because we will immediately recognize the presence of Jesus when we are looking for and need Him.
No matter what your problem is right now—financial problem, sickness, domestic problem, or any problems that you can’t tell anyone—there is good news for you. Jesus has died on the cross, been buried and risen on the third day so that we get freedom from sin and victory over our every problems. Let us focus on Jesus, on what He can do, not on how big our problem is.
Do not merely focus on problems and grief, because that can obscure our sight from our Savior, Jesus Christ.