Called by Name

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.  As she wept, she bent over to look in the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."  At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,but she did not realise that it was Jesus.
"Woman," he said, "why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary".
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to my Father.  Go instead to my brothers and tell them, "I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.".
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"  And she told them that he had said these things to her.  (John 20:10-11).

Mary Magdalene, a woman who knew deep unmerited forgiveness and grace from Jesus, now stands, full of grief, reeling from watching her Lord crucified, to now discovering that his tomb is emtpy!  What more could she take.  As she is processing what is happening Jesus appears and speaks to her.  For whatever reason, Mary does not recognise him, until Jesus calls her by name.  How moving is that!  The risen Lord calls this woman who's  a crying mess, and speaks her name. This gets Mary's attention.  This small sentence takes my breath away because it reveals how Jesus relates to us.  The resurrected Christ, conquerer of sin, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, perfect redeemer calls us by name and speaks to us by name.

 "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far from all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the age to come. " (Ephesians 1:19b-21). 

The God of all power comes down to our level, to ultimately endure the humility of the cross.  And for what?  Love. Love for you, for me, for everyone.  How personal, how intimate, how real.

But how does Mary recognize Jesus?   Mary knew Jesus's voice and she followed him.  Having been forgiven of adultery, spent hours traveling with Jesus, listening to his teaching, watching him perform miracles, Mary devoted in her love, knew her Lord and followed him with all her life.  Therefore, when " The watchmen opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his own sheep follow him because they know his voice.  " (John 10:3-4).

So in a world that has many idols of God and even as Christians we construct "God-fantasies" to help fulfill what we want, and when we want it, will you recognize Jesus's voice when he calls your name?  Does the God you profess align with the historical account of Jesus in the Bible?  How do you know your God?

By being like Mary, deep, devoted and daring in her love for Christ which is rooted in his unconditional love for her, his teaching, his witness, we too can know Jesus within a real, personal and honest relationship.  When we remember that it's all about Jesus and less about us,  we will hear his quiet voice in our lives.  Are   you ready to hear and follow Jesus?