"Ka mea a Ihu ki a ia, E Meri".
"Jesus said to her, Mary".
— John 20:16
Mary who sees the tombstone has moved.
Mary who weeps.
Mary who doesn’t ‘see’ what’s going on.
Mary who couldn’t be closer to the most significant event in history; and yet couldn’t be more confused.
Mary who sees angels sitting but not Jesus standing.
Mary who is looking for Jesus in the wrong place and in the wrong way.
Mary who doesn’t ‘see’ who's in front of her.
Mary who mistakes the God of the universe for the gardener.
Mary who mistakes the gardener for someone who removed the body.
Jesus stands in front of this Mary and says "Mary".
Jesus uses Mary’s name and reveals who he is to her.
Jesus also uses Mary’s name to reveals who she is to him... by using her name.
Jesus is showing Mary—your Father and my Father sent me to you.
Jesus is showing Mary—Mary, I died for you.
Jesus is showing Mary—Mary, I’ve risen for you.
Jesus is showing Mary—Mary, I’m leaving but won’t be absent from you.
Jesus is showing Mary—Mary, I’m sending you.
I am often as confused as Mary, and so often I don’t recognise Jesus. I don’t see what Jesus is doing and where he is going. I can see some things as clear as day and yet can so often miss the main thing: Jesus!
While I’ve never mistaken the God of the universe for a gardener, I have repeatedly forgotten that the God of the universe can work through gardeners.
How often has he been close and I have not recognised him?!
But I’m grateful of this:
Jesus calls me "Mark". He calls me brother, not because of what I’ve done, but because of what he has done.
He calls me Mark, not because of what I’m doing but because of what he has done by dying and rising from the dead.
