Who Is It You Are Looking for? John 20:11-18, NIV But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” he said, “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!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. Hallelujah! I would like to share the grace of God under the title, “Who Is It You Are Looking for?” based on John 20:11-18. Could you please repeat after me? “Who Is It You Are Looking for? Who Is It You Are Looking for?” The Lord Jesus has risen. He arose from the dead and became the first fruit of resurrection, putting an end to the power of sin and death. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the greatest miracle, blessing and grace for all humankind. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus opened the door to eternal life for all humankind. The Resurrection of the Lord was prophesied by many prophets in the Old Testaments. Jesus Christ Himself prophesied His own death and Resurrection. As prophesied by the prophets and by the Lord Jesus Himself, He rose up again from the dead on the third day of his death and burial. His Resurrection is the most miraculous historical event that brought a turning point in the history of humankind. Christianity is the religion of life, resurrection, and eternal life. It is the religion of absolute hope. However, the first person who met the resurrected Lord was not Peter or another disciple; but a woman named Mary Magdalene. She used to be possessed by seven demons. The Lord Jesus had mercy on her and drove the demons away from her, which changed her life and destiny. She was renewed! She was so grateful for His grace that she became His faithful follower and servant; dedicating her life to the Lord. I pray that your destiny and your life will be changed by meeting the Lord today. First, I want to speak about people crying in despair. John 20:11 says, “But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb.” Mary was weeping outside the tomb. To Mary, the Lord Jesus was the life saver. He gave absolute hope to her while she was absolutely hopeless. Nobody ever cared about her when she was possessed by seven demons. According to the record, she was a street woman, living in debauchery. She was totally despised, ignored, and forsaken by people. However, the Lord Jesus took mercy on her, valued her, and poured His grace upon her. He drove the demons away from her and made her anew. Since she was overjoyed when she was made anew, she followed and served the Lord with great joy. Even though most disciples of the Lord Jesus fled away when Jesus was crucified, she followed Him to Calvary. She stayed beside Him until his last moment. I pray that you will stay with the Lord Jesus no matter what kind of trouble may sweep over you. John 19:25 says, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Nonetheless, the Lord Jesus, whom Mary had trusted and loved with all her life, died on the cross, and was buried. Jesus’ death must have been of utmost hopelessness to Mary, for Jesus was the only joy in her life. She must have lost all her hope. Early on the first day of the week after the Sabbath, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and other women took some spices to the tomb. They found out that the stone had been removed from the entrance and that the body of the Lord was not in the tomb. So she came running to Simon Peter and another disciple and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!” Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb and Mary followed them. They bent over and looked inside. They were surprised and did not know what had happened. Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. However, Mary Magdalene did not go back. She stood outside the tomb, crying. Mary despaired at the sight of the empty tomb. The despair and hopelessness she felt when Jesus died was compounded. His body was gone! How terrible she must have felt! A life without the Lord Jesus is nothing but hopeless and depressing. Indeed! If Jesus leaves from our lives, we would be nothing at all. We are so weak that we cannot but despair. All the people on earth live in hopelessness. Sin has brought hopelessness to all humankind. That is why Paul lamented in his epistle. Romans 7:24 says, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” In times of utmost despair, people cry bitterly. After tiring of their hopeless tears, they are left in the darkness of despair, dismayed to the point of suicide. Since it is very hard to endure the dark night of hopelessness in which they are unable to see anything ahead, and since they could not find help from anywhere, they give up. No matter how hard and painful it may be, no matter how dark the night may be, we should never give up the precious gift of our lives. One soul is more precious than the whole world! No matter how hard it may be, when we endure it a little more, a bright dawn of hope will break as a dawn breaks after a dark night. In fact, life may seem to be surrounded by sin and hopelessness but it is not the end. As the night gets darker, the dawn is closer. A dawn of hope will break after a night of hopelessness. It was a stormy night. Strong winds fiercely shook the windows. There were sweep winds, thunderstorms and lightening causing the electricity to go out. The family spent a gloomy and cold night, holding one another in fear. What a terrible night they remember it to be! A bright day broke after such a terrifying night. The little girl who had fallen asleep in the arms of her father asked, “Daddy, what was God doing in the middle of the thunderstorm and icy cold winds last night?” Her father replied, “Sweetheart, God was making a morning, a bright morning like today’s.” Then he hugged her! That is true. God is preparing a morning of hope for us. While we are suffering painfully in the dark night of hopelessness, God is preparing a bright dawn of hope for us. The Lord Jesus has allowed us to have the dawn of Resurrection. The Lord Jesus, the Lord of Resurrection, is with us right now and is right here! There is no hopelessness in the Lord Jesus. Jesus is the only hope for us. Never despair! Never be dismayed! Never give up! If we endure a little bit more, if we wait patiently a little bit more, the Lord will open a dawn of hope for us. Second, I want to speak about Jesus Christ, our eternal hope. John 20:15 says, “‘Woman,’ he said, ‘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.’ ” When Mary was crying, thinking the body of Jesus was taken away, the Lord Jesus came to her. However, Mary did not know it was Jesus but thought He was the gardener so she asked Him where He put the body of her Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus comes to us, to the place of hopelessness. The Lord of eternal hope comes to the place of hopelessness for our sakes. Jesus Christ is the only hope for the humankind. He is the only way, the truth, and the life. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ ” Jesus appeared to Mary, who was weeping, and asked. John 20:15 says, “‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ ” The Lord comes to us when we are hopeless and asks, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? What do you want?” What kind of problems have you brought here today? Many people are suffering from financial problems due to the global economic recession of these days. Some are going through a hard time to find a job. Financial problems bring serious problems in the family. They cause problems and conflicts between husbands and wife and between parent and children. Problems arise in our businesses and work places. The Lord asks us in times of trouble, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? What is it that you want?” Then He also says, “Do not cry. I will be with you. I will deliver you from hopelessness.” Do not be dismayed, for the Lord of love is with you. The Lord, the problem solver is with you. Although we cannot resolve the problems by our own efforts or means, when the Lord Jesus comes, He will resolve all the problems. The problem is that we cannot see the Lord even when He is near because we are too hopeless. Mary Magdalene, too frustrated and hopeless, could not recognize the Lord Jesus who was right next to her. John 20:14 says, “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” Mary saw Jesus but she did not realize that it was Jesus. She was too frustrated and hopeless to recognize Him. Sometimes, when we are blinded by hopelessness and sorrow, we cannot recognize the Lord Jesus who is right next to us. Please remember - The Lord Jesus never leaves or forsakes you. The Lord Jesus, the Lord of hope and power and the problems solver, is with you. Leave all your burdens before Him and experience His wonderful grace. Do not fail to recognize Jesus because of deep sorrow like Mary Magdalene but look up to the Lord Jesus who is right in front of you, leaving all your heavy burdens before Him. I remember a prayer of Ken Geyer. He confessed: Risen Lord, When things look blurred When even You look blurred When Your voice sounds strange, Help me to wipe my tears out To see you are next to me. Help me to see that you want to know why I weep, You want to know what hurts me, And You want to wipe my tears out. Thank You, Risen Lord For being there, For not leaving me nor forsaking me, For being by my side, When it is the darkest and coldest! The Lord is right with us when it is the darkest and coldest. The Lord never leaves nor forsakes us. The Lord of hope, healing, and forgiveness is right there with us in the scenes of hopelessness. I urge you to be thankful for the wonderful grace and love of the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord for being with us in the middle of hopelessness and sorrow. Give thanks to the Lord for coming to the place of our suffering. When we are in extreme pain, being deeply frustrated, it seems as if the Lord is not there. Even when we cry on top of our voices, no one seems to answer. We may lose faith, without knowing if the Lord lives or not. From time to time, we may want to end everything in such a hopeless moment. Please remember that the Lord is right next to you. When the night is darkest, we know that the dawn will break soon. Endure and wait patiently a little more, trusting in the Lord. Cry out to the Lord, holding on to Him, and never give up. I pray that you will hear the voice of the Lord. After calling us by our names, the Lord gives us mission. Third, I want to speak about the Lord Jesus who gives us mission. Could you please repeat after me? “Jesus Christ gives us mission. Jesus Christ gives us mission.” John 20:16 says, “Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” When Jesus called her, “Mary,” she opened her spiritual eyes. She could recognize Jesus who was standing in front of her. The Risen Lord went to Mary, when she was crying out in utmost hopelessness, and called her by name. The Lord of love comes to us, too, and calls us by name when we cry out in hopelessness and pain. When we are unable to sleep, so lonely and pained, crying through the night, the Lord comes to us and calls us by name. The Lord calls our names when we are in utmost pain. The Lord comes to us and calls us when we are in indescribable sorrow. Forsaken by others, He comes to us and calls us by name! He comes to us even now. He comes to us when we weep in despair and sorrow and calls us by name, “My beloved son! My beloved daughter!” The Lord knows what kind of pain we are in. People do not know what depresses us. They do not know our sorrows or hurts. On the other hand, the Lord knows every detail of our pain and sorrow. The Lord says to us, “Do not fear! Do not worry! Do not be troubled! I will never forsake you!” Isaiah 43:1 says, “But now, this is what the LORD says?he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. You are mine. You are mine!” Mary heard the voice of the Lord, calling her by name, while she was still weeping. Mary must have been startled. She opened her spiritual eyes and saw the Lord, who was her life-saver, her only joy, and the purpose of her life. She called Him, “Rabboni!” Rabboni means ‘My Teacher.’ Rabbi means general teacher but Rabboni is more personal, meaning ‘my teacher.’ By calling the Lord Rabboni, we are confessing to Him, “The Lord is my power, hope, joy and life. I love You, my Lord! You are the only one whom I will follow and trust throughout my life. I love You - my Lord Jesus!” Hallelujah! I pray that you will make the following confession to the Lord, “Rabboni, my Lord, my joy, my life, and the purpose of my life, I love You, Lord Jesus.” Rev. Robert Lowry was a renowned hymn composer. He was born in Philadelphia in 1826. He met the Lord personally when he was 17. Called by the Lord, he studied theology and became a pastor. He received a doctorate degree, worked as a Theology professor, and served a church as a Baptist minister. God inspired him greatly and composed many beautiful hymns. Some of his hymns are included in our hymnal. Hymn No. 184, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Hymn No. 336, “Far from the Lord I Wandered Long.” Hymn No. 343, “Weeping Will Not Save Me.” Hymn No. 403, “My Life Flows Rich in Love and Grace.” We have more than ten songs of Rev. Lowry in the Korean hymnal. Rev. Lowry went to the battlefield during the American Civil War to conduct funeral ceremonies of war victims. He saw so many people dying because of improper medical treatment. Instead of conducting funeral ceremonies, he decided to help the wounded to survive. He prayed and treated them. He worked so hard without sleep or rest that he was completely exhausted. He prayed, “Lord, help me and these wounded soldiers.” Then the Lord Jesus appeared in his vision and said, “Lowry, I am alive. I rose a Victor from the dark domain. I am living in you.” Rev. Lowry experienced the power of resurrection at that moment. He gained strength and rose up. Then the Lord blessed him with the Scripture. Luke 24:5-6 says, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.” Rev. Lowry held on to this Scripture and composed a hymn while he was praying. It is Hymn No. 150 in our hymnal. It is the hymn that all Christians all over the world sing on the Easter Sunday. We sing this song with emotions of gratitude. Low in the grave He lay Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day Jesus my Lord! Up from the grace He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes; He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! Amen! The Lord Jesus arose! He arose, destroying the power of sin and death. The Lord Jesus who called Mary by name calls us and speaks to us today, giving us mission. John 20:17 says, “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” The Lord told Mary to go and spread the news that He was resurrected. He also told Mary to tell the disciples that He would return to the Father. With mission to accomplish, and with overflowing joy, Mary ran to the disciples. She spread the good news of His Resurrection to all the people she met, saying, “Our Lord has risen. He has risen by the grace of the Spirit. I met Him. He told me to spread this good news to you.” The Lord, who told Mary to go and tell people about His Resurrection, is sending us now. John 20:21 says, “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’” “I am sending you!” The Lord Jesus calls us and gives us mission to go into the world. As witnesses of the Resurrection of the Lord, we must go into the world and preach the good news to the ends of the earth, saying, “The Lord Jesus arose. The Lord Jesus is our resurrection and life. Let us go to heaven together by being saved through faith in Jesus.” Rev. Billy Graham once said, “Do not believe the news even if you hear that Billy Graham died today. I am not dead. I am only being transferred to the eternal kingdom.” The late Dr. Hwallan Kim, a former president of Ewha Women’s University, once said, “Do not sing a sad funeral song when I die. Sing a marching song of joy and triumph to heaven.” Hallelujah! Sir Rogie of England lost his son in the Second World War. His son, who had faith of his resurrection, sent a letter to his father before he died, “Father, do not come to my tomb. I won’t be there.” Christianity is not a religion of the past. It is not a religion of the dead. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Christianity is a religion of today and tomorrow. Therefore, we need to leave from the tomb. We must leave from death and hopelessness. We must go to the souls who are calling us. The Lord has given us mission. Matthew 28:18-21 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” This is the Great Commission of the Lord--the absolute and greatest commission for us. It is our mission that we must keep on carrying out until we go up to heaven. I pray that you will carry out your mission of preaching the gospel. We must go to the poor, the hungry, the neglected, and the wounded. We must go to them with the love of the Lord Jesus. We must practice His love. We must go to those who are suffering and who ask for our help. When we look around, we will see that so many people are living in poverty and in pain. They are calling us, saying, “Come and help us. Come and help us.” Because we fail to go help them, Christians are severely criticized. When we practice the love of Christ, which is our mission to carry out, their criticism against Christians will be changed into praises for Christians. I happened to pass by a slum area when I visited Egypt. There are many impoverished people in Egypt. The guide said to me, “Pastor, these people live miserably. They are the poorest. In Cairo, Egypt, about 20 million people live. Ironically, one of the top richest people in the world lives in Cairo, and so do the poorest. The poor collect trash, pick up something to eat from it, and feed on it. These days, however, the Egyptian government hires the waste management company to collect trash so the poor has lost even their slightest source of food. They are almost starving.” Korea may be much better off than Egypt but we still have conflicts between different classes of people. There are conflicts between the rich and the poor; the learned and the ignorant; those who have something and those who do not have anything. The conflicts are getting bigger. As Christians, we must remove such conflicts from our community. We must go to the poor and the pained. When I was a college student, I was a volunteer in a social service and went to a place where evicted people were living together. It was thirty-some years ago. I could not help crying to see people who were suffering so much. I got off the bus at the bus terminal. There were fine western style homes on both sides of the street. I passed by the nice homes and crossed the levees of rice paddies. Hundreds of people were living below the mound of collected waste. They did not have sewer system or electricity. They would dig wells for water. They covered their roofs with black oil paper. Their ceilings were so low that we had to bend to go inside. They would turn on oil lamps at night. Since the children could not go to school, they would shine people’s shoes or collect waste to make some money. The adults would work temporarily at highway construction sites, earning a few dollars a day. Their lives were miserable beyond description. Despite all things, I saw some hope there. There was a church. I heard their tearful prayers and cries to the Lord. Although they were forsaken by society, although they were going through a terrible time, they came to church and met the Lord. They found hope in the Lord and gave thanks to Him, trying to overcome their problems, and trying to live with joy and gratitude. Government could not do anything for them, but Jesus did wonders for them. The Lord Jesus is the only one who can resolve the problems of our lives. He hears our tearful prayers and answers them. The Lord resolves the problems and suffering that no worldly power or wealth could possibly resolve. It is time for the Christian church to rise. All the churches should rise, joining together to go to help those who are ailing, neglected, wounded, and in trouble. We must practice the love of our Lord. This is why we started the Foundation of Sharing Love and Happiness. Dr. Yonggi Cho’s pastoral ministry continues in his work of charity to practice the love of Christ. I want you to look for those who are ailing, wounded, neglected, or forsaken in your district or neighborhood. I want you to go to them with the love of Christ the Lord. I want you to practice your love for them. Let them know that it is only Jesus who can resolve the problems of life. Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. When the Lord of resurrection is with us, and when the Lord of resurrection is with them, all the problems of life will be resolved. God’s wonderful power of healing and forgiveness will be upon their lives. Let us be the main characters in the act of changing our society. Let us be the “little Jesus” and look for the wounded souls, go to them, take care of their wounds, cry with the hopeless, introduce to them the Lord Jesus of eternal hope, lift up those who are collapsing, and preach the news of the Resurrection. We will be able to share the love and comfort of Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus Christ, with those who cannot find comfort anywhere else. The love of Christ will change the world. His love will change individuals, our neighborhood, and our homes. His love will change our whole society into a community full of love for the Lord. I pray that you will experience this wonderful grace of resurrection in the Name of the Lord. It is my earnest prayer for you. Let us pray. Our Father of infinite love, grace, and mercy, we give thanks for Your enormous love. Thank You for coming to us and calling us when we are crying in hopelessness. We thank You for bringing the dawn of hope while we were sighing and crying in the middle of our dark night of despair, unable to find any help. We thank You for letting us meet the Lord of Resurrection. Now that we have met the risen Lord Jesus, bless us so that we may preach the Lord of Resurrection to the ends of the earth. Help us to take the love of the Lord Jesus to the poor, the neglected, the wounded, and the sick. Make us the witnesses of Your Gospel. I pray in the name of Jesus! Amen! 1