Hey, it's Me

"Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher")." John 20:16

Back in the day there were these objects that hung on the wall and set on tables in and amongst American homes. One of ours hung on the kitchen wall (I didn't think I would ever be tall enough to reach it and say 'hello' into the reciever). They were big and bulky and had a long, curly cord that attached one part to the other. Two popular colors for these ancient ruins were avocado green and harvest gold (ours being harvest gold). If you haven't already guessed what I am describing they were known as a rotary telephone (circa 1970's).

When someone would call, the phone would ring and that was our queue to race to see which one could get to it first, not knowing who was on the other end of the line. Most times we would recognize who was calling just by hearing their voice. It was so obvious who it was as soon as they said "hello" (or most the time "hey, it's me"). When the caller proceeded to make the request of whom he wanted to talk to we would then yell (at the top of our lungs) to whomever it was that was being called upon.

On the third day after Jesus had been crucified Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away. She immediately ran to get Peter and the other disciples to tell them what she had seen. They quickly gathered at the mouth of the tomb to see that indeed it was empty except for the linen strips that were around Jesus' body. After Peter and the others had left, Mary stayed behind crying because she did not know what they had done with her Lord. John tells us that two angels appeared and asked her why she was crying. Without turning she explained her despair; thinking it was the gardener. Until Jesus called her by name, "Mary"...did she instantly know that He was the Lord.

How familiar she was with His voice after all the years she had followed Him and sat under His teachings and shared meals across a table with Him and her family.

The thing about knowing someone by the sound of their voice shows how close of a relationship you share with them and how often you talk. It is a sign of intimacy. I feel a bit of envy when I read Mary Magdalene's story, how close she must have followed our Savior. But there is no need for envy because He wants that same relationship with each of us.

I challenge myself to ask the questions:

"Do I know my Lord's voice?"

"Do I hear Him when He calls me?"

"Do I instantly answer Him?"

"Do I take a step of faith when He asks?"

"Do I immediately respond to His voice?"

I hope and pray that all the answers are..."Yes, Lord."

That is the kind of relationship He desires from all of us, the kind that when He whispers our name we will immediately recognize and answer Him.

I love you & He loves you more!

Lord, Help us to tune out all the voices in our head and learn the One that matters. May we seek You in our quiet time and soak in all Your promises. And may we answer when You call our name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.