In 1980 a country singer named Johnny
Lee recorded a song for the movie sound track of Urban Cowboy. The song was called Lookin’ for Love, and the refrain
told the listener that he was lookin’, “in all the wrong places.” It’s hard to find something that just isn’t
there.
When the women went to Jesus’ tomb they
are surprised to not find Jesus. He wasn’t
there! Instead they found two men in
dazzling apparel (they were angels) who ask, “Why do you seek the living among
the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Johnny Lee might have sung it this way, “Lookin’
for Jesus in all the wrong places.” (Or,
maybe not.)
There is nothing new about looking for
Jesus or looking for God in all the wrong places. Ever since the serpent craftily quizzed, “Did
God really say…?” people have sought for God in all kinds of places. They have bowed to idols, sought spiritual
highs through mystical trips, endured self-inflicted punishments to purge
themselves, attempted to unravel the mysteries of the universe, communed with
nature, and even searched deep within their own hearts. And while I said, “they,” did these things,
we have dabbled in most, if not all, of these as well.
How then will we encounter Jesus? Where will we find him? The angels pointed the women to Jesus’ words,
“Remember how He told you ….” Jesus, Himself,
pointed the Emmaus disciples to the Word to show that the Christ must suffer,
die, and rise. Later, Jesus again pointed
the disciples to the Word, “These are my words that I spoke to you…. Thus it is written….” The place to look for Jesus is in God’s Word!
God is not found; as though He were playing
a game of spiritual hide-and-go-seek.
God is the one who asks, “Where are you?” He is the one who seeks, finds, and
saves: indeed, sought, found, and saved
you! He continues to come to you in His
Word – whether it is connected to water in Baptism, in, with, and under bread
and wine in the Lord’s Supper, or even the sound of syllables proclaiming what
God has said. The Word is where God
promises to be for us – alive, active, and reminding us of all that He has done
to find and save us.
Lord, keep us in Your Word. When we seek Your presence guide us back to
the Word, and help us to point other to Your Word that they may be found by
You! Amen.
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