“Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, ‘I have seen the Lord!’ Then she gave them his message.” John 20:18 NLT
Mary, grief-stricken at the death of her dear friend and Lord, Jesus, was mourning at the tomb. To her shock, she witnessed something disturbing—where they had laid Jesus was empty, and in his place were two strangers, one sitting at the head and one at the foot of the place. When asked why she was crying, she confessed the reason for her distress: someone had stolen Jesus. Turning around, she spotted another person, whom she mistook as the gardener, who asked the same question, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
Only when He spoke her name—“Mary”—did her sorrow lift, and the truth was revealed. In hearing her name spoken by her Lord, Mary encountered not just the risen Jesus but also the deep, personal connection He offers to His followers. Her mourning turned to joy, her confusion to clarity, and her despair to purpose.
Jesus relays to her a message of assurance and hope to be shared with the disciples: “Go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17). This message reassures Mary and the disciples that their relationship with God is now even more intimate and accessible. Jesus’ resurrection brings the disciples—His "brothers"—into a shared relationship with God as Father.
For Mary, this message transforms her mourning into a mission: she becomes the first to proclaim the good news of the risen Christ. For Christ’s followers, this ushered in a new understanding of their relationship with God, the promise of the Holy Spirit, and their being sent to continue Jesus’ work (John 20:19-23). The moment Jesus spoke Mary’s name became a profound reminder of His intimate knowledge of each of us and His power to transform despair into purpose.
Today, we can find hope in this same truth. Just as Jesus knew Mary by name, He knows us deeply and personally. His call invites us to step out of our moments of mourning or confusion and into a life of mission, purpose, and renewed relationship with God. The resurrection message continues to echo, offering assurance that we are not forgotten but, like Mary, uniquely called to share His love with the world.
Dearest Lord Jesus, we are humbled and grateful that You know us by name. In moments of sorrow and doubt, remind us of Your abiding presence and the hope of Your resurrection. May we, like Mary, hear Your call and step into the purpose You have for our lives. Help us to share Your love with the world, bringing light and hope to those who need it most. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
Comments