Do You Hear?

Read John 20:1-18

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).
-John 20:16 (NRSV)

JOHN tells the story of the resurrection through the experience of Mary Magdalene, who loved Jesus. She had seen him on the cross and heard him say, "It is finished." She knew that Jesus was dead. So on the third day, she came to recover a corpse, not to witness a miracle.

According to John, Mary was not convinced that Jesus had risen. She comes to believe only when the risen Christ calls her name. And when she hears her name, she turns toward Christ.

That's the reason most of us believe: because we have heard Christ call our name. Maybe it was in a worship service or while reading the Bible. Or reading a good book, looking at a piece of art, or hiking through the woods. Or maybe in a time of deep trouble or doubt. Or on bright, sunny days when we know that life is good and right and that Christ is present, that the Eternal is real.

Mary heard Christ call her name, and she believed. That personal response is the only thing we've got to go on. No outward evidence can convince anyone. We hold on to the truth that Christ reached out to us and we knew it. Because of that, we believe and can tell others he lives.

Joe E. Pennel Jr. (Tennessee, USA)