8/15/25 The God Who Calls Us by Name

Takeaway: Jesus meets us in our grief with compassion, reminding us that we are never alone in our sorrow.

Opening Prayer (Friday)

God, as this week comes to a close, I ask for endurance to finish strong. Keep my heart steadfast, my mind focused on You, and my spirit at peace in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection

Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the empty tomb, her heart weighted down by grief and confusion. Everything she had hoped for and trusted in seemed to have crumbled away. Jesus, her teacher and healer was gone. Even his body, she thought, had been taken from her. Her sorrow had such a grip on her that she was unable to recognize him when he stood right beside her. It wasn’t until Jesus said her name, “Mary,” that the darkness lifted. One word, spoken in a voice she knew deep in her soul. Hearing her name in that moment changed everything.

This scene from John 20 is not just a record of a resurrection appearance, it is a sacred glimpse in of how Jesus meets us in our most broken moments. Grief can disorient us. It can cloud our spiritual vision, convince us that God is absent, and make us feel alone. Like Mary, we may be near the very presence of God and yet not recognize it, because pain speaks louder than our faith in that moment. But Jesus doesn’t stand off at a distance. He comes close. He speaks gently. And he calls us by name. He doesn’t rebuke Mary for her weeping. He doesn’t force her to stop grieving. Instead, he honors it with his presence and then invites her into hope by speaking her name.

In our own seasons of grief, whether from death, disappointment, loneliness, or loss, we can find ourselves staring into empty space unsure what to make of it. We cry out for answers, wishing for comfort, pleading for some sign that God sees us. And, what we can learn from this passage, the good news, is He does. Jesus, risen and alive, is not far off. He is nearer than we realize. He sees the tears we cry in secret. He stands beside us when we feel most abandoned. Then, at just the right moment, he speaks our name with compassion. And when he does, everything begins to shift. Our sorrow doesn’t disappear in an instant, but our orientation changes.

Mary’s encounter with the risen Christ wasn’t just for her sake, it was also for ours. It teaches us that Jesus is not merely the Lord, but the God of intimate love. He doesn’t just save humanity in the abstract; he seeks out individuals in the particularness of their life. He knows your story. He knows what you’ve lost. He knows the weight you carry. And he comes to you. His voice is strong enough to calm the sea and raise the dead, yet it is also gentle enough to soothe a weeping soul.

Questions

What does it mean to you that Jesus calls you by name personally, even in your most broken moments?

How might you make space to hear Jesus’ voice in the midst of sorrow or confusion?

Application

Take time in stillness to reflect on a place of grief or loss in your life. In prayer, by journaling, ask Jesus to help you see his closeness and to shift your perspective from despair to hope, even if your circumstances haven’t changed.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, you promised that you are not distant from my pain. Thank you for coming close, for seeing my tears, and for calling me by name. Help me to hear your voice even when sorrow clouds my vision. Shift my heart toward hope, and let me rest in the assurance that I am seen, known, and loved by you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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