John 20:15 | When Grief Can’t Recognize Jesus

In John 20:15 (World English Bible), Mary Magdalene is standing in a garden outside the empty tomb, and she cannot recognize Jesus yet. The risen Christ is right in front of her, but grief has narrowed her vision. Instead of correcting her or rushing her emotions, Jesus asks two questions that gently open the heart: “Why are you weeping?” and “Who are you looking for?”

This episode explores the tenderness and theological depth of that moment. We trace how John’s Gospel uses questions to expose what we are truly seeking, especially in seasons of pain, burnout, disappointment, and loss. Mary thinks Jesus is the gardener, and John is doing something profound with that detail. This resurrection scene happens in a garden, echoing Eden and quietly announcing new creation. Jesus is not only alive. He is restoring what sin and death tried to destroy.

If you have ever felt foggy, numb, disoriented, or unable to sense God’s nearness, this passage offers a steady kind of hope. Jesus meets Mary in real grief, honors what is true in her, and leads her toward recognition without shame. This is worship as formation. Not performing your way into peace, but staying close enough for the Shepherd to speak.

Formation to Transformation is a verse by verse worship devotional for anyone who wants a deeper life with Jesus. We move slowly through Scripture, letting the Word form our attention, our trust, and our ability to recognize the Shepherd’s voice.