Jesus was not recognized until . . .
“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!” – John 20:15-16
John 20:11-14
11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.
12 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.
13 “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.”
14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.
The use of fingerprinting is well-known. Each individual has a unique set of fingerprints. The earliest recorded use of fingerprints dates back to ancient Babylon. Individuals would press their fingerprints on soft clay tablets for business transactions.
Each individual also has a unique voiceprint. Recently, voice or speaker recognition has been developed to identify a person based on their distinct voiceprint. This allows us to communicate with modern devices without touching them. The human development of this technology is relatively recent. However, the Father originally designed and created it to allow people to recognize each other through their voices.
Who can forget the voices of Darth Vader or Bugs Bunny? On a more personal level, we recognize the voices of our family members: parents, siblings, spouses, etc.
The narrative found in John 20:11-16 has been described as one of the most profound recognition scenes in all literature. Mary Magdalene holds the distinct honor of being the first person to encounter the risen Christ, yet in her moment of deep sorrow, she initially fails to recognize Him (Barclay).
Few individuals throughout history have had the opportunity to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine how marvelous it would be to hear the Lord say your name.
Mary did not initially recognize the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Why? If one is weeping uncontrollably and their eyes are full of tears, their sight is blurred, and their hearing is muffled. Could this be why Mary didn’t recognize the Lord Jesus Christ at the tomb? Barclay asserts, “As she wept, her vision blurred by tears, the figure before her was obscured, rendering her unable to see Him clearly” (Barclay).
Her dialogue with the person she assumed was the gardener reveals the depth of her devotion. She seeks to know where the body of the Lord Jesus Christ has been taken. “If you are the man who has removed him, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Where would she get the strength to do that? Where was she going to take him? She had not even thought of these problems. Her one desire was to weep her love over Jesus’ dead body.
After responding to the supposed gardener, she returned to the tomb. She turned her back on Jesus. Then she heard Him speak her name, “Mary!” To which she replied with recognition, “Master!”
Mary’s initial failure to recognize Jesus can be attributed to two simple yet profound reasons: Her vision was clouded by her tears, a natural response to loss that blinds us to our surroundings, and, at times, to hope itself. She was facing in the wrong direction, with her back to him, and her attention was directed toward the tomb.
REFLECT & PRAY
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Father thank You for calling my name, and I am Yours.
INSIGHT
Hearing your name spoken by others is not merely a casual greeting; it acknowledges your individuality, creating a feeling of inclusion and worth (Quora). It lays the groundwork for deeper connections and genuine companionship.
Mary had a deep personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It took only one word, Mary, to brush aside the gloom and despair. Suddenly, mourning changed to rejoicing.
Only a few have heard the Lord speak their name. Among them are Moses, Paul, and Peter.
Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.
Acts 22:6-10
6 As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
8 “Who are you, lord?” I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’”
9 The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
10 “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’” “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’”
John 21:15 Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”
Why is it significant to address individuals by their names? Being called by our name
fosters a feeling of warmth and fellowship, recognizing our unique identity and worth. It shows respect and strengthens our sense of belonging.
But there is more! This sense of belonging is observed in the Father’s relationship with the nation of Israel. He called the nation of Israel by name (Genesis 32:28). They are extraordinarily bonded to Him. They are intended to be more than subjects of the King. They are to be family, children of the King. But there is even more. God created them, formed them, chose them, and redeemed them. He gave them their name: Israel. He designed them for a unique purpose. He is at work to see His dream for them fulfilled.
Isaiah 43:1-7
1 But now, 0 Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. 0 Israel, the one who formed
you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you
are mine.”
3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . .
4 You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
7 Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I
who created them.
By application, every child of the King belongs to the King. He calls us by name, and we are His. “What matters most about you is not what you deserve but whose you are” (Ortlund and Hughes).
Isaiah 43:1 I have called you by name; you are Mine!
“Do you realize that the God of heaven has created you for His glory? He wants the world to see some of His majesty and goodness through you, and He wants to crown you with His own splendor” (Stanley).
He is at work to fulfill His dream for each of us. The Father shapes the course of history for the children of the King. He values and loves us greatly. It’s all about the Father, not us. It is grace so profound that we are left in awe, amazement, and speechless.
When Mary came to the gravesite, she was not looking for the resurrected Savior. She expected to find the tomb intact, with the stone covering the entrance. Her first thought was that someone had rolled away the stone and taken the body. Nothing could be further from the truth. A lie began that day and has been told for 2000 years (Matthew 28:13-15).
When you come to the Scriptures, Who are you looking for?
He is risen!
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© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 