Devotional: Everyone Is Looking for Jesus

³⁵ Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. ³⁶ Later Simon and the others went out to find him. ³⁷ When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Mark 1:35-37, NLT)

After a very, very full day in Capernaum, Jesus went to bed but got up early the next morning to find a place to pray in private, a place away from the hubbub, as we say. This wasn’t on his calendar and the disciples thought he was missing and made a nervous search for him. When they found him their explanation for trying to find him was, “Everyone is looking for you.”

Everyone was looking for Jesus. He had spent the day healing the sick and casting out demons and people wanted more. And maybe that’s all they wanted, or knew they wanted from Jesus. But the human race has been looking for Jesus all its life. Since their failure in the Garden, Adam and Eve were looking for the “seed of the woman” who would crush the head of the serpent and restore God’s perfect kingdom. Mankind has yearned for a unique leader who would put an end to selfish living and the fulfillment of passionate, prosperous and peaceful community.

We told myths and stories of such Messiahs who were stronger and smarter and more sensitive than other people, people who brought out the best in us and earned our loyalty and love. But when Jesus came, we found our myths came true. In him was found all the fulness of the godhead embodied. In him was found the wisdom our souls so desperately desired. In him was found the honor we so deeply craved, and the challenge we reluctantly but gratefully embraced.

Jesus ascended to heaven and founded the church to be his representation on earth. Everyone is still looking for Jesus and they should find him in the church. They should find love, acceptance and forgiveness. And often they do. But too often they find judgment, criticism, political activism, anti-intellectualism, racism and even cynicism. The world is looking for Jesus. Let’s be a help to them in their search instead of a hindrance, or Jesus might be indignant with us for hindering the little children from coming to him.