The Seek Heart

John 20:10-16 “Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

On two separate occasions there is a reference to the seeking of Mary. The first is by an angelic creature seated on the right in an open sepulcher; “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth” (Mark 16:6). The second time is by the Risen Lord, Himself; “Jesus saith unto her . . .  whom seekest thou?” (John 20:15). The word “seek” and “seekest” are the same Greek word and means to seek as especially to worship, or in a bad sense, to plot against life. In either sense, the spirit of intensity is readily seen. In this case we are introduced to Mary’s intense desire to seek out the Lord Jesus Christ so that she may lavish worship upon Him!

In consideration of the spirit of devotion that is readily seen in the life of Mary; after a diligent searching of one’s own heart, could we put ourselves in the same passionate category? Can I honestly say that I too, possess a seek heart? If I am to answer the question in the affirmative; there are two areas of consideration that must be considered.

The first that calls for our attention is the characteristics of a seeking heart. In John’s account of the resurrection, we see the response of a seeking heart. A seeking heart responds to the absence! That which it longs to be near has been taken, even if but for a short while; a search must be immediately made for my love! Many posses the spirit of a Samson; “And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him” (Judges 16:20). Secondly, we see the remaining of a seeking heart, “Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. But Mary stood without at the sepulcher.” Mary knew the last place that He was seen, and she is not leaving unto she sees Him again. It takes so little to pacify the spiritual appetite of most! Mary would not be satisfied with an open and empty tomb, the words of an angelic creature, or the activities of the disciples; a personal encounter with the Risen Lord is the only thing that would satisfy the hunger of her heart!

Secondly, we must consider the creation of a seeking heart. In many cases, what it takes to make or manufacture something will declare its worth. The higher the cost of development, the greater the worth and the better the quality! The marvelous forgiveness of God had created the seeking heart of Mary. To know that one’s sins have been forgiven should generate the desire to seek Him out for worship. There is an interesting phrase used to indentify this Mary from the others mentioned in the scriptures; “out of whom he had cast seven devils” (Mark 16:9). In Luke 7, Jesus tell the story of a man forgiving the debts of two servants; one five hundred pence and another fifty pence. Jesus then asked the question, “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him the most?” (Luke 7:42). Mary never got over the forgiveness of God! She never lost sight of who she was and what she was when Jesus saved her! The seeking heart of Mary had been forged in the sacrificial fires of forgiveness!

The scriptures are clear; Mary has a seeking heart. Using nothing more than the characteristics and the creation; could we put ourselves in the same passionate category?