Mary

I was listening to the audio Book of John tonight on the computer while I warped my little loom. (I just love saying that - I warped my loom - could say it over and over again!) Listened to the whole book and stayed with it almost the whole time without letting my mind wander. I can't believe how different it is to listen than to read. I 'see' it all happening in my mind.

So, there I am, working away, listening to the Word, and these verses come up:
Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:10-18

I've listened to the whole book 3 times now and every time we get to this passage, tears spring into my eyes and I want to just cry out with Mary, "Rabboni!"

Jesus knew her name. Jesus called her by name. Can you hear his voice? Gentle, comforting, loving, soft? Two syllables, spoken in his very own voice. Her name. Not "woman". Not "lady". Not "hey you". Not sinner. Not silence. Just "Mary".

How her heart must have lept with
confusion
unbelief
fear
wonder
amazement
belief
but more than anything else - pure, complete joy.

I think about that. He calls the stars each by name. And I know that he knows my name, too. I hear him, calling my name, each time I hear those few verses in John.

And I rejoice. He knows MY name!