Day 29 — “Mary!”

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).”

— John 20:16 (BSB)

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb. She had watched Him die. She had seen Him buried. And now she came, grieving, to be near His body.

But when she got there, the stone had been rolled away. The tomb was empty!

Mary ran to tell Peter and John, and they came and saw the empty tomb. Then they went back home. But Mary stayed. She stood outside the tomb, crying.

Then she saw a man standing there. He asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Mary thought He was the gardener. She said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”

And then the man said just one word: “Mary.”

Immediately she knew. It was the way He said her name. It was Jesus, alive!

She turned and cried out, “Rabboni!” which means Teacher.

Think about this. Of all the people in the world, the first person to see Jesus alive after He rose from the dead was Mary Magdalene. Not a king. Not a priest. Not even Peter. It was a woman whose life Jesus had rescued, who had followed Him faithfully, stayed at His cross and stayed at His tomb when everyone else went home.

Jesus honored her faithfulness. And He called her by name.

Remember Day 1 of Book 1? God said, “I have called you by your name; you are Mine!” That’s exactly what happened in this garden. Mary’s sadness turned to joy the moment she heard Jesus say her name.

Jesus knows your name too. When you’re sad, confused or crying, He is closer than you think. And He calls you by name.

Think about it: Why do you think Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene? How does it feel to know Jesus knows your name?

Try this: Imagine Jesus saying your name, gently and lovingly. Then talk to Him the way Mary did: as your Teacher and your Lord.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You rose from the dead, and that You called Mary by name. Thank You that You know my name too. When I’m sad or confused, help me hear Your voice and know that You are alive and near. In Your name, Amen.