Where’s Wally : Where’s Jesus?

Do you recognise these pictures? Which story are they from? ‘Where’s Wally?’ Each double spread of the book has a massive picture full of tiny people that tell a bit of a story. Of all the characters in the picture the aim was to find one single person…Wally, wearing his red and white jumper.  Sometimes he’d be up a tree, sometimes under water, sometimes he’d be in a massive crowd, often he’d be peering out from behind a corner. The challenge is to find him hidden in the picture story. Even grownups like pretending to be Wally. Wally has his own website and phone applications. Two thousand years ago Jesus said to a bunch of Pharisees, “Where’s Wally?” He said it like this:

“You diligently study the scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40)

Jesus is all over the Bible; in the Old Testament he’s concealed, in the New Testament he’s revealed. Finding Jesus in the Old Testament is not just a game, like finding Wally. It’s actually a treasure hunt and it brings the whole story of God to life in a whole new way.

In the Easter story Jesus friends couldn’t find Jesus either. Lets see if we can find the clues in the story that will help us discover Where’s Jesus? (find eight clues around church)

1. Spice Girls
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.” (Luke 24:1) Where’s Jesus thought the women?

2. Rolling Stone
“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb” (Luke 24:2) Where’s Jesus?

3. The Room Vacant
“but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”  (Luke 24:3) Where’s Jesus they wondered?

4. Glowing Angels

“While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, (Luke 24:4-5)

“the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” (Luke 24:5-7). Where’s Jesus? He is Risen.

5. Doubting Jogger

“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw…” (Luke 24:12)

6. Linen Strips

“he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” (Luke 24:12). Where’s Jesus, wondered Peter

7. Hands & Feet

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened… “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 

Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see… When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.” (Luke 24:36-40). Where’s Jesus? – right there with them!

8. Jesus in You
Jesus told his friends, “Go and make disciples of all nations… and I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20)

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

So where’s Jesus? If you trust and believe in Him as your crucified Lord and risen Saviour, He lives in you by His Spirit.