Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “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 and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her. It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. (John 20:11-20, CEB)
This passage always gets me.
Why does Mary not see Jesus and know Him? She looks at Him and hears Him speak to her. She is distraught and overcome with anguish and loss. The teacher she had been with for many years, a person she dearly loved, was executed, and now, when she comes to finish His burial preparations, He is gone.
Jesus talks to her and asks her why she is crying and who she is looking for. She can not see him or hear the sound of his voice due to her anguish, pain, and loss. She is mired in her own world. We all get this way, and then Jesus said, “Mary.”
With the gentleness and love he had shown her so many times before, she heard Him.
The sound of your name, from the lips of a person who loves you dearly, is the sound like no other. It calms the anguish and stills the fears.
It is a sound that reminds you of life and love.
Listen, and you will hear Him call you by name.
aSacredRebel 