Searching

A few weeks ago a young man, starting attending services at the church. I will call him John. (Not his real name).  When I asked if he would like to meet up for coffee, he quickly said 'yes'. So one day last week, he came around.  

It didn't take long for the conversation to flow. "What prompted you to start coming along to church by yourself,' I asked.  

'I'm not sure", he said. " I thought there might be a God. If there is something out there, I wanted to find out. Since I started coming to church, all these coincidence have started happening.  Now I'm thinking, there must be a God.”

I listened to John's story as I do to so many, with great interest. Although his story is unique to John, it sounds so familiar. He was searching for something. 

You have probably heard the saying: “It is not what you know, but who you know that is important.” 

Perhaps as you read this blog, you recognize that you too are searching for something. A purpose in life? A fresh start? A new idea? A place to belong? Or even, like John, you might know that you are searching for God.

On that first Easter Sunday, Jesus did not ask Mary 'what?' she was looking for. He asked her 'who?' she was searching for, and that made all the difference. 

Knowing about Jesus is important. Knowing that nothing can stop God's love because he broke open the grave for you is important. 

But that knowledge in your head has no power unless it is experienced as new life flowing in your body and giving lifegiving love to your soul. Knowing about Jesus is important, but it is the act of knowing Jesus, and being in a relationship with him, the risen Saviour, that has the power to change your life.

This poster (above) is taken from the The Alpha Course. In Chatteris many people come along to the course to explore and find out more about Jesus. On the course you might learn more about Jesus and have an opportunity to ask questions, discuss your thoughts and concerns. But the Course, just like the first Easter event was not just about getting the information.

The story of Jesus is 'out there' for anyone who wants to know. Jesus was a good Jewish man who lived a long time ago in what is now modern day Israel. He was a teacher and a healer who demonstrated the love of God for people with signs and wonders. And in the end, he was executed like a criminal, not because he had done anything wrong, but because he was a man who claimed to be God. But we know the story doesn't finish there.

 

Crucified in Roman fashion, a soldier pierced his side with a spear to make sure he was officially dead. His body was then taken down and laid in a freshly cut tomb. A huge stone was rolled down into place, sealing it air-tight. A squadran of guards were posted. It was not suprising then that his followers hid themselves away behind locked doors. Their world had ended. Or so they must have thought.

Early the next morning, when it was still dark, a group of women took spices and oils to embalm the body of Jesus in the traditional Jewish way.  The group of women (Luke 24. 10) were rightly worried about how they might get into the tomb, because the stone was so large. 

I can imagine the scene. Imagine what it would have been like to arrive and see that the stone was rolled away. Imagine the confusion, when they couldn't find the body. They ran. They ran in all directions. Some of the women ran back to Jerusalem. Mary Magdeline literally ran into Peter and John. Falling at their feet sobbing, she exclaimed; 'They have taken our Lord out of the romb and we don't know where they have laid him!'  (John 20. 2)

 

Imagine the grief. Now Peter and John ran. But Mary couldn't bring herself to run anymore...

She stayed by the door of the grave weeping. Blinded by her grief, she couldn't even see the angels talking to her. But then, she hears the voice of Jesus, as he stands beside her. 

"Mary."  He says her name and the penny drops. Jesus shows himself to her and her world is turned upside down. She throws her arms around him.

'Mary!' - It gets as personal as that.

'Who are you looking for?'

Mary discovered the irony of faith: 
Jesus was looking for her. 

2000 years later and God is still seeking us out, one by one.  When we stop and turn to look, we find that he is standing right here. Right here with us. He seeks us out and once we have experienced his resurrection life, he sends us out to share the good news of this new life with others. 

Alleluia, Christ is risen!