Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (ESV)
John 20:16
There are a lot of wonderful things happening in the stories of the resurrection of Jesus. Each gospel writer chooses the particular events and moments to capture. This story of Mary at the tomb was particularly meaningful to me this morning as I was reading and thinking about life. Mary is deep in grief and sadness over the death of Jesus. As she comes to the tomb to continue her mourning, she is distraught to see that the body of Jesus is no longer there and has been moved. She confronts the angels who are there and begs them to tell her where they have taken the body. At this, she turns to see Jesus but does not recognize him. He even asks her a question and she still doesn’t recognize him. It is only when he says her name that she recognizes him and clings to him. There is something special and beautiful about Jesus simply saying her name to her. An intimate and special bond is renewed and refreshed as he calls her name. She responds in happiness and joy at the mere mentioning of her name. She clings to her Savior. She desire to hold onto him and never let him go. She has found what she thought was lost and is overwhelmed with joy in the moment. What is it about this short scene that speaks to me? There are three things I find important.
First, Mary is not content to be without her Savior. She witnessed the crucifixion of Christ the previous day and was filled with grief and sadness at the loss. All she knew to do was to prepare his now dead body for burial. Finding that the body is missing, she lingers around the tomb looking for answers. Where Peter and John saw the empty tomb and went back home, Mary stayed put. She wanted answers to her questions and she wasn’t going to stop until she got them. Her plan was to find someone who could help her. So when two angels appeared in the tomb, she tells them of her dilemma of not know where the body is to be found. When Jesus himself questions her, she begs him to tell her where the body was taken. She is relentless in her desire to find Jesus. She is steadfast and persistent. She is determined to find the One she is seeking. Am I like this? How do I react in my times of grief and sadness? How is my heart when Jesus seems absent from me? It is often the opposite reaction. I want to blame God or accuse him of not caring. I want to lash out and be angry. What I really need is this sweet and simple heart that Mary displays. I need my heart to be tender toward Christ. I may not see him or feel him, but my heart should not be content until that closeness is renewed. I should be seeking and asking and looking with every intention of finding him. I should not be satisfied until I hear him say my name.
Second, Jesus saying her name is the key. This is the gentle heart of Christ for his people. Jesus didn’t need to appear to her at this moment. He could have left her in this state knowing that he was going to reveal himself to the others in time. Yet, he takes this moment to have a personal connection with Mary. He sees her in her grief. He feels the emotional turmoil that is emanating from her. He is moved to compassion for her. The love he has for her swells up in his heart and he lets is flow out toward her to provide comfort and peace. How does he do this? Does he preach a sermon? Does he give her seven steps to find peace and comfort in life? Does he make her jump through any hoops to reach his heart? No. He simply says her name. He says her name and it is enough for Mary. It is enough for me as well. Simply hearing Jesus say my name is more than enough to convey his love and compassion for me. What a beautiful picture of the grace of God. To hear the Savior, my Savior, the Creator of everything say my name. This all powerful God knows me. Knows me by name. He doesn’t just know about me, but he KNOWS me. He is intimate with me. And when he says my name to me, that intimacy floods my heart with grace and love. I can just bask in the radiance of his love for me as He says my name and draws me near to him.
Third, Mary’s response is where I need to be. She responds by calling out his name, Teacher. A term of respect and endearment. What is left unstated in the text is that she clings to him. She has gone to her knees and grabbed hold of him. The One she has been looking for has revealed Himself and she clings to him. She wants to hold the object of her affections close. She wants to be in his presence. She wants to hold on and enjoy the moment of fulfillment. As much as she has been overwhelmed by grief and pain, she is now overwhelmed with joy and gladness. She clings to him. Where she needed to release Him because he had not yet ascended, I can keep clinging to him in his ascension. I can cling to the risen Christ. The object of my affections is there for me to cling to. He desires for me to hold onto him tightly. This is the reason he went away from them, so that he could come back and be with us in a special way. He is now clingable.
The takeaway is simply that I should keep pursuing Christ with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. All that I am should be directed at pursuing Christ. Knowing that he is near to me. Knowing that he never ever leaves me nor forsakes me. He is here even know with me in this moment. I may not feel it at times and I may not even think I deserve it at times, but he is always with me. Standing at the door of my heart, knocking. He is calling to me each and every day. Saying my name. Wooing me. Like Mary, I need to turn to him and run to him and cling to him alone. And through my tears of happiness and joy of being with Jesus, the cares of this world will melt away because I have the only true thing that matters in this life and for all of eternity. The Savior knows my name and calls to me.