Mary

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Mary: I Call You By Name

29th March

“She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. “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!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).”

John 20:14-16

One of the first people Jesus appeared to in His resurrected body was Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a lot about Mary, other than the fact she had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus. Some say she was a prostitute or a ‘loose woman’ before she met Jesus, yet those claims are not supported by Biblical references. What we do know about her, is that after her healing, she never left Jesus’ side. She was present throughout Jesus’ ministry, at the cross and most importantly at the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the resurrected Jesus is recorded in the Gospel of John and is especially significant for Jesus’ words when speaking with Mary.

After questioning the angels to see where Jesus’ body was, noticing that the tomb had been opened and Jesus’ body was not in the tomb, Mary encountered a Man whom she thought was the gardener. Yet in actual fact the ‘gardener’ was indeed the resurrected Jesus. However, it was Jesus’ response to Mary’s desperate questions that promoted her to recognise who Jesus really was. As soon as Jesus said “Mary”, she knew it was her Lord and Saviour. The love that could be heard through Jesus’ affirming words moved Mary to call out ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabboni’. She knew the voice of her Good Shepherd calling her. She knew the comfort His voice brought. She knew the value of Jesus’ words. She knew that she was God’s child and that God Himself was calling her. One can only imagine the joy that Mary must have felt when Jesus called her by name.

Today, Jesus calls us too by name. He calls us as His bride. He calls us as His chosen ones. His voice is as re-assuring, affirming and loving as it was when He called out Mary’s name. His voice gives us the assurance that we are His. Heed Jesus’ loving voice. We are His beloved.

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Jesus And His Mother

25th March

“When Jesus saw His mother standing there beside the disciple He loved, He said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And He said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

John 19:26-27

Jesus had much on His mind as He hung dying on the cross. The pain was killing Him – literally. He no doubt yearned to rejoin His Heavenly Father. He knew His job on earth was finished; He had accomplished everything His Heavenly Father had ordained. Yet He was also aware of His disciples’ shock. He was probably stung with grief over Peter’s denial and Judas’ betrayal. Only God knows everything that went through His mind.

But one topic is clearly recorded. As Jesus looked down from the cross, He saw the need to do something about His grieving mother. Referring to John, His beloved disciple, He said to His mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” He then made a similar statement to John: “Here is your mother.” (Bible scholars assume that Mary’s husband, Joseph, must have passed away by this time, and thus needed assistance.)

Early in His ministry (Mark 3:31-35), Jesus had said His true family members were “anyone who does God’s will.” But here, near the end of His earthly life, His love and concern for His birth mother are apparent as well.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the important work we are doing that we neglect our commitments to our loved ones. If anyone could have claimed that His ministry was the top priority, it would have been Jesus. But even in the middle of His most important act of ministry, even while enduring unspeakable physical and spiritual agony, Jesus cared enough about His mother to ensure she would not be left vulnerable and alone. His charged His closest disciple with her care. May we, too, remember to care for our loved ones even while we carry out the other work God has given us to do.1 May we never forget the importance of ‘mothers’ in our lives. Jesus didn’t, neither should we!

1Men’s Study Bible, Pg 1422, A Son and a Mother