LEARNING DAILY

John 20:16, Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

Jesus was placed in a tomb located near the place He had been crucified; it was owned by Joseph of Arimathea. His body had been bound in strips of linen and the tomb had been sealed with rock. Guards had been posted outside of the tomb just in case the disciples tried to steal the body.

John writes that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on the first day of the week – in the Jewish calendar this would be Sunday morning. Finding the rock rolled away from the tomb, she went to tell the disciples that the body of Jesus had been taken away. After John and Peter had left the tomb, Mary had stood outside the tomb weeping. She was weeping because she thought His body had been taken and she needed to know where the body had been taken. As she turns to leave, she hears someone asking what she is doing. She thought this was the voice of the caretaker.

 Pastor Ed Newton, Lead Pastor of Community Bible Church, spoke this weekend about the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus. He related the confusion Mary, the sister of Lazarus and not to be confused with Mary Magdalene, had about the resurrection of the body. “She had knowledge about the resurrection from the Old Testament prophecies; but she had a ‘someday faith’ and not a ‘today faith’.  Jesus, standing right in front of her Mary, was saying hope had a heartbeat and faith had a face and he was standing right in front of her” (Pastor Newton). He went on to say “Jesus wanted her to not only trust in the future hope of resurrection, but to have a personal testimony about what He was doing in her life right now. He is not only the God of the afterlife but the God of the abundant life right now!”

Mary Magdalene was outside the empty tomb. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Whatever it was in the sound of that voice, Mary knew it was the voice of Jesus. I wonder what went through her mind, what emotions must have existed! Jesus called her by name and all the grief and despair she was feeling over the body of Jesus being gone changed in that moment.

When Jesus was standing with Mary, the sister of Lazarus, outside the grave of Lazarus He said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (My emphasis).  A little later He calls Lazarus by name to come out of the grave.

Believers celebrate the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on this weekend. Be careful to note He called Lazarus and Mary Magdalene by name, and He spoke directly to Mary, the sister of Lazarus. Can I remind you that Jesus Christ knows you by your name; I believe He is speaking directly to each Believer today. Pastor Newton said, “When Jesus speaks, He is calling you to not just a better life, but to live a resurrected life of forgiveness, freedom, and salvation. As He shouted to Lazarus to come out of the grave, He stands at the tomb of sin, death, and hell shouting to each [Believer] to come out of whatever situation you are facing. He is calling you out of fear to holiness, out of compromise to conviction, out of hiding into healing, and out of defeat into your destiny. This is not just a Bible story about Lazarus – it’s your story. It’s about dead things that don’t stay dead when Jesus speaks.”

Do you hear Jesus calling your name? He’s calling you to come out of the situation you face? Do you believe He is able to help you? “Let go of every addiction that holds you, let go of every trauma that taunts you, let go of every comparison that takes your joy away and helps you let go of every condemnation that shames you?” (Pastor Newton). He can do this because He is the Resurrection and the Life. “The tomb could not hold Him. The grave could not bind Him. And death could not stop Him. His resurrection is not just about our future – it’s for now, as well!” (Pastor Newton).

Think about how you respond to the voice of Jesus and how you can be more aware of His voice in the midst of all the noise of this world. Just as Mary Magdalene turned to Jesus when He called her name, you are invited to turn your life to Him as He guides you on your walk on the narrow way into His eternal kingdom.