Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (John 20:16)
Mary was grief-stricken and confused. Jesus was dead and his body missing. She had more questions than answers and with it an endless supply of tears. Through those tears she has a conversation with Jesus who she fails to recognize. It is when Jesus calls her by name that Mary beyond her grief to the hope of her resurrected Lord.
This is such a powerful and moving story. My first observation is that like Mary, when I am overwhelmed by grief, despair, pity or worry - in those moments I can fail to recognize the very tangible presence of Jesus, the One who will never leave me, nor forsake me. Ralph shared last Sunday words to the effect that just because we do not feel God's presence in our life in despairing seasons, this does not mean that God is not present. In short, God's presence is not contingent on our awareness of His presence. Thank God!
My second observation is for me wuch wonderful news; Jesus knew Mary's name, and he knows mine. It was when Jesus addressed her by name that Mary's grief was overshadowed by hope. Jesus knows my name, and with my name, he knows me. Intimately, Perfectly. Psalm 139 spells our God's full and complete knowledge of me beautifully. Where in this world can I go to flee from God's loving presence? A few years ago I had the privilege of being sung over by hundreds of Solomon Island children. In beautiful, unaccompanied three-part harmony they sang the chorus, 'He Knows My Name'. (Have a look at this clip if you don't know the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC8puwexBBo&feature=related)
It moved me to tears then, and the truth of this lyric still does now.
Comments