There is a universal condition in our world today: people are searching.
Some are searching for peace. Others are searching for identity, purpose, fulfillment, or hope. Solomon himself searched for all of those things. He searched through wealth, relationships, advancement, pleasure, and achievement, yet he finally concluded: “All is vanity.”
Why? Because he was looking for fulfillment in the wrong places.
Mary Magdalene represents a transformed life. We first meet her in Luke 8 where Jesus casts seven demons out of her. Talk about a life changed by the Gospel. She had once been under the influence and bondage of Satan, but Jesus completely changed her life.
Mary loved Jesus deeply. The Bible says she ministered unto Him with her substance.
But now in John 20, Mary is heartbroken. She stands outside the tomb weeping. She came prepared with spices to anoint the body of Jesus because she expected to find Him dead.
Mary is sincere. Mary is devoted. Mary is searching.
But she is looking for life in a graveyard.
This describes so many people in our world today. They are sincerely searching, but searching in the wrong places.
I remember speaking with a husband and wife who attended our church years ago. The wife was exploring various religions and philosophies trying to discover purpose in life. After speaking with her, I said, “The problem is not that you are searching. The problem is that you are looking in all the wrong places.”
People today scroll endlessly through phones looking for:
- Validation
- Connection
- Identity
- Meaning
Yet when the screen turns off, they still feel empty.
Why?
Because they are trying to find real life in dead things.
Mary is standing at a tomb looking for life (Ecclesiastes 1:2, Luke 8:2, Jeremiah 2:13).
There is a universal condition in our world today: people are searching.
Some are searching for peace. Others are searching for identity, purpose, fulfillment, or hope. Solomon himself searched for all of those things. He searched through wealth, relationships, advancement, pleasure, and achievement, yet he finally concluded: “All is vanity.”
Why? Because he was looking for fulfillment in the wrong places.
Mary Magdalene represents a transformed life. We first meet her in Luke 8 where Jesus casts seven demons out of her. Talk about a life changed by the Gospel. She had once been under the influence and bondage of Satan, but Jesus completely changed her life.
Mary loved Jesus deeply. The Bible says she ministered unto Him with her substance.
But now in John 20, Mary is heartbroken. She stands outside the tomb weeping. She came prepared with spices to anoint the body of Jesus because she expected to find Him dead.
Mary is sincere. Mary is devoted. Mary is searching.
But she is looking for life in a graveyard.
This describes so many people in our world today. They are sincerely searching, but searching in the wrong places.
I remember speaking with a husband and wife who attended our church years ago. The wife was exploring various religions and philosophies trying to discover purpose in life. After speaking with her, I said, “The problem is not that you are searching. The problem is that you are looking in all the wrong places.”
People today scroll endlessly through phones looking for:
Yet when the screen turns off, they still feel empty.
Why?
Because they are trying to find real life in dead things.
Mary is standing at a tomb looking for life (Ecclesiastes 1:2, Luke 8:2, Jeremiah 2:13).