More than anything else, Danielle longed to be called by name. You see, up until then, the prince had known her only as Nicole de Lancret, for in an attempt to hide her truly low status in the presence of the prince, Danielle had used her mother's name--the name of a countess. In the end, what was so precious to Danielle was not the prince's apology, but his loving use of her name. He, in his royal robes, comes to her, meets her in her filthy smelly clothes, and calls her by name. In addressing her by her real name, Prince Henry was making it clear that he knew exactly who Danielle was--her birth, her rank, her poverty--and he was choosing her, forgiving her, and loving her.
the part where Jesus said her name
Overwhelmed with grief over the suffering and death of her Lord, the One who had saved her from spiritual (and most likely physical and emotional) torment (Luke 8:2), Mary is the first one to whom Jesus appears after His resurrection, but she does not recognize Him. She has faithfully and courageously followed Jesus when all of His disciples fled, stood near the cross (John 19:25), and followed His dead body to the tomb (Matthew 27:61) in order to return in the morning and anoint His body for burial (Luke 23:55-56). The first to reach the tomb early Sunday morning, Mary's grief turns to despair as she cannot even honor the body of her Savior as, in her own words, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." (John 20:13) Jesus meets Mary just after she says these words, but she presumes Jesus to be a gardener and you can hear the urgency in her voice as she tries to discover the whereabouts of her Lord: "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." (John 20:15)
Jesus said to her, "Mary." (v 16a)
Imagine what must have gone through Mary's mind at the utterance of that single word! In the midst of her greatest grief Jesus reveals Himself to her. Her beloved Lord has just said her name! How incredibly amazing to hear Jesus, the Son of God, speak your very own name!
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). (v 16b)
Notice, only when Jesus calls her by her name does she turn and truly see Him for who He is and she clings to Him (v17).
Two thoughts come to mind: (1) only when Jesus calls your name will you truly see (i.e. experience) Him; (2) when Jesus does call your name you will know (i.e. believe) it is truly Him. Jesus, Himself, explained this when He said, "To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. (John 10:3-4) Again, Jesus repeats, "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14-15)
As I have meditated on this scene at the tomb, I have been studying the implications that come when Jesus calls His sheep by name. Of course, there are many, but I narrowed them down to five for this particular post.
1. To be called by name implies a personal experience. Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
2. To be called by name implies relationship. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9)
3. To be called by name implies eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
4. To be called by name implies abundant life. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)
5. To be called by name implies commission. Jesus said to her [Mary], "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " (John 20:17)
When Jesus calls you, saves you, forgives you, justifies you, and redeems you, you go and you tell the world of your Good Shepherd--the One who called your name. And note, there is no place for pride, for Jesus clearly states "You did not choose me, but I chose you." (John 15:16a)
the part where Jesus said my name
Early in the year 1998, Jesus called my name. He took a slave of darkness and transferred her from sinful rags to royal robes and into His kingdom of light and truth. In studying John the past two years, my love for my Shepherd has deepened, my need for Him has grown, and in saying my name, His own has become far sweeter.
There is a name I love to
hear,
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.
I love to sing its worth;
it sounds like music in my ear,
the sweetest name on earth.
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!
It tells me of a Savior's
love,
who died to set me free;
it tells me of his precious blood,
the sinner's perfect plea.
who died to set me free;
it tells me of his precious blood,
the sinner's perfect plea.
It tells of one whose loving
heart
can feel my deepest woe;
who in each sorrow bears a part
that none can bear below.
who in each sorrow bears a part
that none can bear below.
(Oh, How I Love Jesus by Frederick Whitfield)
So so good and so true. Beautiful thoughts of the Savior. Thanks so much for taking time to write this.
ReplyDeleteWhat joy that we are known by Him and He calls us by name and we follow Him b/c we know His voice! I have loved studying John deeply with you! Great, great post Lindsay!
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