Your name

John 20: Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed. She came running in panick to Peter, probably shouting and crying: „They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don´t know where they have put Him!” Peter and John checked it out for themselves and could confirm, that the body of Jesus disappeared. Then they went back to where they were staying. But Mary stayed outside the tomb. Crying, weeping, interpreting the situation in her own way. Somebody has stolen the body of her beloved Jesus, so now they cannot even bury Him according to their customs. Pain, dispair, loneliness. As she wept, she saw two angels in the tomb, seated where Jesus´ body had been. She even started talking to them, but her heart was not moved. Then Jesus appears and starts talking to her, but she thought He was the gardener and told Him her version of the story once again. Then Jesus said to her: „Mary.” She turned towards Him and cried out: „Rabboni! (Teacher!)” Her eyes were opened instantly and she could see Him. When He called her by her name.

We all have a name. One name that sounds completely different to our ears and hearts depending on if it was spoken out by our mother, father, partner, child, sister or brother, close friend, colleague, neighbour, boss. It varies not only because of the specific voice of the person, but the way they speak your name out reflects the whole history of your relationship with them. Imagine it for a while, your name being called by different people. Do you hear what I mean?

And then imagine the Voice of the One who created you, the One who KNOWS you perfectly from the very beginning, calling out your name in perfect Love. Once you have heard His beautiful Voice calling out your name, you will recognise it anytime, anywhere. It doesn´t matter if the Voice is encouraging, rebuking, commanding you to do something or simply asking you a question. As soon as you hear His Voice calling out your name, everything changes. His presence, His care for you changes the way you see your circumstances, changes the way you even see yourself.

After a bus driver in Jerusalem shouted my name across the street to get my attention and get me on a bus, a friend of my friend, who is a singer, was telling me, how differently a person in the crowd reacts when his/her name is not shouted, but sung out. He said he believes shouting people´s name is rude, but when you sing it, you immediately get the full attention of a person. The Lord sings your name in such a harmony, in such an excellence and beauty, that once you hear it, it will make you turn around and do whatever He tells you to do.

Back to Mary. She just found out, that Jesus is alive! She has been crying her eyes out for three days! And now He is standing in front of her, perfectly well, telling her to go back to the disciples and tell them what she had seen. It just hit me like a flash, how hard it must have been for Mary to leave her beloved Master right after He rised up from the dead. She didn´t even know when she will see Him face to face again. But she obeyed. Because no matter how hard it may seem, in His Words there is a power that breaks every chain, love that casts out every fear, provision to cover every need and wisdom to equip us perfectly for the task. When He calls your name and tells you to go, all you need to do is trust and obey Him, and He will take care of the rest. Do you hear your name called out by the perfect Love? Are you willing to go? If yes, you will not be alone! The Holy Spirit will be your companion, guiding you through all your adventures with the Lord. Enjoy the ride!

John 20:21-21: „And Jesus said: „Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that He breathed on them and said: „Receive the Holy Spirit.”