I remember being called Mrs. Ross as a newlywed and thinking Mrs. Ross is my mother in law. I readily identified as Paul’s wife but Mrs. Ross was a title that took some growing into. In fact, I commonly asked to be called Mrs. LeAnn because it seemed less formal and made it easier for the children I taught to understand who I am when I was addressed or mentioned by other adults.
When someone uses my given name, it suggests familiarity, especially since no one uses my first name except my mother. Anyone who knows me well wouldn’t make the mistake of calling me Allison. Many people address me by name but there is no one on earth I would rather have call me by name than my husband, especially when he holds my hand at the dinner table and calls my name in prayer.
On the first Easter morning, Mary of Magdala experienced what you and I can only imagine this side of heaven. The resurrected Lord called her by name.
On that Sunday morning, “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.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”
John 20:11-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.20.11-16.NLT
Instant recognition! Jesus called her name and all her sorrow was turned to joy. She knew Him immediately. It seems as if the weight of her grief kept her mind from accepting what was right before her eyes, something entirely unexpected, someone announced by angels before His birth and after His resurrection. Jesus was alive!
When a child is born, much thought goes into choosing an appropriate name. Sometimes our choices are meant to honor someone dear to us or perhaps to reflect popular trends or in keeping with family tradition. Joseph was given the name Jesus by an angel of the Lord. (Matthew 1:21) Jesus literally means the Lord saves. The prophet Isaiah was told that the virgin would give birth to a son and would call Him Immanuel, meaning God is with us. (Isaiah 7:14)
John, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, is given a vision of the victorious return of Jesus. He sees a rider on a white horse whose name is Faithful and True, and whose title is the Word of God. Another name was written on Him that no one understands except Himself. (Revelation 19:11-13)
“He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:7-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.7-11.NLT
In the same way that I share my husband’s name, God has made a way for me and you to be identified with Him by sending His Son, Jesus.
“Through him God reconciled everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
This includes you who were once far away from God.
You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.
As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it.
Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.”
Colossians 1:20-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.1.21-23.NLT
“Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us; the Lord has forgotten us.”
“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.”
Isaiah 49:14-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.49.16.NLT
“But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription:
“The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.””
2 Timothy 2:19 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.2.19.NLT
Jesus’s words to Mary on that first Easter morning scream “I am His!” to all who believe.
““Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father.
But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.”
John 20:17-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.20.17-18.NLT
Hear her message echoing through the ages from My Father and your Father-
My God and your God.
More than familiarity, Jesus died and rose again so that you and I can be family, heirs together with Him, the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:29)
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.
Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.
Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
And since we are his children, we are his heirs.
In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.”
Romans 8:14-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.14-17.NLT
I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
“Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day the food we need.
Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NLT
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