December 28, 2010
CALLED BY NAME
John 20:1-18
Les Brown
Central Truth
Jesus calls His followers by name.
Key Verse | John 20:16
Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). (John 20:16)
John 20:1-18
The Resurrection
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' 1 20:7 Greek his head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 2 20:16 Or Hebrew “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Dive Deeper | John 20:1-18
There's much to consider in this passage: Mary finding the empty tomb; Peter and John racing to the tomb only to leave with questions unanswered; Mary staying there and being greeted by angels; and, finally, Mary seeing Jesus again.
The funny thing is that when she saw Him, she had no idea who He was. She thought He was the gardener and even asked Him if He knew where the body was so she could go and get it. But when Jesus called her by name, everything changed. She immediately knew who He was and was ready to do whatever He asked of her.
Take a minute and think of what that was like for her. Put yourself in her position. She's standing there grieving Jesus' death, the manner of His execution, and now-—a final indignity—the apparent theft of his body. She's confused, upset, and asking anyone she can for some help.
With one important word—the most central word to her being—Jesus changed it all. The King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the risen Son of God knew who she was and called her by name. Could He have done anything more powerful in that moment? In an instant she knew that somehow everything would be okay.
I don't think I could tell you how often I forget that He called me by name. I forget that He loves me. I forget that He died for me. I forget that He forgave me. I forget that He knows me. For some reason, it's easy to forget that He's a personal God and that He wants a personal relationship with me. I know it's the point, but it's easy to forget.
What about you? Do you remember that He called you by name?
Discussion Questions
1. Do you find it easy to forget that He called you by name?
2. Have you found helpful ways to move your faith from religion to relationship?
3. Do you know how to tell someone far from God that Jesus wants to call them by name?
4. Have you been able to tell anyone this Good News this year?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Who did Mary think Jesus was (verse 15)?
2. What did Jesus do that showed Mary who He was (verse 16)?
3. Do you think Jesus knows your name? What else does He know about you (Matthew 10:29-31, Psalm 139)?