He Knows Your Name!
Do you recognize Jesus when he calls your name?
A few weeks ago, we celebrated the Superbowl of Christianity – Resurrection Sunday. On this day, we celebrate the truth that Jesus conquered death, rose from the grave, appeared to many people, and then ascended to Heaven, where he is preparing an amazing place for anyone who will choose him as their Lord and Savior. Please understand that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is truth. It is not some nice story that was passed on to explain the origins of Christianity; it is a well documented truth. The link below will take you to the article “Gazing Into the Eyes of God”, which documents many of the historical facts surrounding this time period and contains links to more proof of this event. You can also read “The Case for Christ” by former atheist and journalist Lee Strobel.
But that is not what we are going to focus on for this devotional. Today, we are going to focus on a passage from John chapter 20.
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
John 20:1-2, 11-16 (NLT)
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
I really love this account of the empty tomb because of that last line – “Mary!” Jesus called her by name. If you read the next verse, it says this:
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
John 20:17 (NLT)
Mary did not recognize Jesus when she first saw him because, in his resurrected state, he had very visibly changed. But as soon as he said her name, Mary knew it was Jesus!
Jesus knows your name. He knew you before you were born. He knows everything about you, and he has loved you with his whole life! He cares about everything that you care about; nothing is too small for him. Yes, God has a whole universe to run and many people to care for, but he’s a REALLY BIG GOD! He can heal a terminal cancer patient, comfort a grieving parent, protect the earth from an annihilating meteor, AND still care about what color you paint a room or which meal you decide to prepare for an event.
Jesus not only knows your name, but he calls your name every day. He is asking to be a part of your life – not just the big problems or decisions, but in the everyday, mundane things. Do you hear him? Do you recognize him? Something important to recognize in the passages above is that Mary was looking for Jesus. If you are looking for Jesus, you will recognize him when he calls.
This week, let’s focus on listening for his voice. Talk to him throughout your day. Ask for help with day-to-day tasks or for clarity on even the small decisions.
Jesus, I am so thankful that you know my name! Help me always to look for you, so that I will recognize you, like Mary did, when you call me. Be with me in all activities – even the most common ones. Help me to understand that you care even about the smallest details of my life and my actions. And thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice you made on the cross and for defeating death in your resurrection! Help me never to lose sight of your amazing love and sacrifice for me. Amen.
Songs of Victory
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Royalty-free images from Storyblocks.com
