“He Knows My Name”

Meditation on John 20:1–18

Easter Sunday 2013

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        Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

      But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. 

***

     Some of you may have seen me driving around Renville in my red mini-cooper this week.  I don’t drive it much in Minnesota winters—for reasons that are obvious to Minnesotans.  It isn’t a “snow car.”

    I am sure that I am the only person in Renville who has a red mini cooper with a white stripe.  Actually, I am pretty sure that I am the only person in Renville with a mini cooper of any color or stripe.

    Since I have been here almost 2 years, there are plenty of folks who see my car and think, “That’s Pastor Karen. What’s she up to?” But not everybody knows my car and me.  Not yet.

     One of the best things about being the only person to drive a mini in this part of the world is watching the reaction of other drivers.  On Friday, as I waited at the stop sign on County Road 6 preparing to make a left onto 212 and head to town, two tractor trailers passed by.  And both of the drivers did a doubletake. Their jaws dropped open.  And though I couldn’t hear him, I could see one of them mouth the words, “What IS that?!”

     But all car talk aside, you DO know me better than when I arrived in 2011 and you tried to figure out what to call me.  Reverend Crawford? Pastor Crawford?  Pastor Karen?  Or just Karen? They’re all OK with me. 

     You know that I have a husband named Jim who is also a pastor and a bunch of kids, including one in the military and two in Minnesota colleges. You know that I love my family and I love to write. Some of you read my devotions on Facebook.  You know I like dogs and many of you have met my Sheltie and my Pomeranian—or at least heard them barking.

     And you know so much more about me than that!

     And I know YOU better, too than I did in 2011.  I started with learning your names and trying to figure out how you are related to one another.  I am still working on it! I have had the joy of visiting many of you in your homes—and if I haven’t come to your house, yet, I hope to come soon. I have visited some of you in hospitals and nursing homes.  I have confirmed some of your children.  I have baptized infants—and I look forward to baptizing another little one in April. I have presided over weddings and, Lord willing, will preside over three more in May and June.     

       There have been 6 or 7 funerals, and I have been privileged to walk prayerfully beside those who struggle with grief and loss. I have watched your faith grow stronger.

       I have prayed with you and for you.  And some of you have prayed for me, too!

      We know so much about one another that when we speak each other’s names in greeting, we are saying so much more; we are proclaiming our loving relationship.

***

     

       In our gospel today, Mary Magdalene, before everyone else, has discovered the stone rolled away and the empty tomb.  Her pain and sorrow drew her to be with Jesus before the sun came up on the first day of the week.

     

       Upon seeing the empty tomb, she runs to get Simon Peter and another unnamed disciple, “the one whom Jesus loved.”  And they come—the one whom Jesus loved arriving first.  They see that the tomb, is indeed, empty. Then, Peter and the unnamed disciple go away.

       

      Mary remains at the tomb.  Alone.  Weeping.

     

       She has personally experienced Christ’s healing and God’s forgiveness by faith.  She has been with the Lord many days as his loyal disciple and close friend. She knows him well.  She knows so much more about him than just his name.  She cannot imagine life without him.  She doesn’t want to live without him. She isn’t ready to let him go.

    

        And in her grief, she fails to recognize two angels of the Lord dressed in white. Then, she fails to recognize Jesus standing next to her! 

    

     “Woman, why are you weeping?” he asks, like the angels asked.

    

      ‘Sir, if you have carried him away,” she answers, “tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’

     

       Then Jesus says,  “Mary!”  With her name, he says so much more; he reaffirms their loving relationship.

      

      She responds by speaking his name and confirming her love,  ‘Rabbouni!’ Teacher!

      

       As I read this familiar passage, I am amazed, as always, how Jesus, who is about to accomplish God’s plan for the salvation of the world, would be so concerned about the grief of one person that before he ascends to be with God, he comes to comfort her and help her move on.

      

       ‘Don’t hold on to me,” Jesus says.

       

       Then He gives her a precious gift. He charges her with an important task—to carry His message of hope to the others.   

       

      And Mary runs to do as he asked, announcing to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!”

     

     Alleluia! He is risen from the dead! 

   

      I can imagine the disciples’ surprise at her news.  Especially Peter and the other disciple who had come to see the empty tomb, but then had gone home.

    

      I also can’t help thinking about the unnamed disciple who came with Peter to the tomb.  Who was he?

    

      Some scholars believe they know which disciple John was talking about in his gospel. Others say that John deliberately did not name the disciple.  That’s what I think, too. 

    

       I am sure our biblical authors considered long and hard every word they wrote—and that God inspired them to write what they did.  And, sometimes, words and details that seem to be “missing” are left out for a reason.

   

        I believe that John, who wrote his gospel for the Church of every age, meant for the audience to put themselves into the story through the character of the unnamed disciple—the one whom Jesus loved. 

    

         We are the ones who ran to the tomb with Peter and Mary—and got there first, but didn’t stay long enough or pursue Christ hard enough to see Him face to face.

      

        This is a warning to those who become discouraged too easily and for those who lack patience.  And it is an encouragement for us to seek the Lord with all our hearts—and never give up pursuing Him!

       

        Friends, this God who proves His love for the world by offering salvation through His Son —also knows and loves each one of us personally.

       

       He knows your name.  He knows MY name! And he knows so much more! 

      When we cry out to him in our darkness, His Spirit comes to us and conveys His love by calling us by name—just as our Lord came to comfort and reassure Mary in her grief.

     

      The Lord has given us all a precious gift, an important task.  He has charged us to carry his message of hope.

    

       To go out into the world in faith—that we, too, have “seen” the risen Lord dwelling in our midst.

    

       To tell all who walk in darkness that the light of Christ still shines.

    

       To proclaim, Alleluia! He is risen from the dead!    

Let us pray.

    Holy One, thank you for your love, generosity and amazing grace that led you to give up your only Son so the world may be saved through belief on Him! We look forward, Lord, to the day when Jesus comes again and our bodies are resurrected with Him.  Forgive us when we have lacked the faith to pursue Christ with all our hearts.  Forgive us when we were impatient and gave up too easily.  Teach us to trust in You always.  Give us courage to carry the message of hope to those who walk in darkness.  Let us be bold and proclaim not just on Easter morning, but every day, “Alleluia! He is risen from the dead!”  In Christ we pray.  Amen.