By Brother Gary Wheeler

Read John 20:11-18

I think Mary Magdalene must have been an extraordinary woman. Once imprisoned by the devil, she found salvation through Jesus. Yet ever since her Rabboni’s arrest, her world had been turned upside down. She had watched Jesus captivate crowds, heal multitudes, feed thousands, and promise the coming of the kingdom of God. But now, that all seemed a distant memory.

The Bible says she was one of the women who went to the tomb very early Sunday morning to finish the job of honorably caring for Jesus’ body, only to discover the tomb is empty. She ran to tell Peter and John the horrible news, then made her way back. Maybe, somehow, she could look once again inside the Tomb. What if she’d missed something, some clue that would lead her once again to Jesus?

She was crying. Crying for her loss. Crying over the horrible images and inhuman treatment at the cross. Crying over how upside down her world was.

It is Jesus who finally pulls her out of the horror of the last few days. And how does He do it?

He calls her by name. “Mary.” That’s all that was needed. It was the word of life; the word of revelation; the ultimate word of love. He said, “Mary!” He called her by name. The Bible says that the good shepherd knows His sheep by name. “I know my own and my own know me” (Luke 8:2).

Instantly, when she heard His voice, His sweet voice, calling her name, the world was no longer upside down. It was right side up!

I believe that when we find ourselves upside down, the first step towards our turn around is hearing God call our name. Our beautiful and wonderful name.

Are you listening?