John 20:11-18

Be Still: Lord as I sit and reflect on your word, open my eyes to see you. Amen

Read: John 20:11-18

Jesus said to her, ’Mary.’

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ’Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’)  (v16)

Encounter: Every time I call my grandparents back home, I am greeted in the same way, every single time. There is a love, familiarity, and comfort in hearing my name from voices calling my name that have been there all my life. 

We read yesterday that Mary set off early in the dark, found an empty tomb and thinking someone had taken his body away, ran to tell the disciples. She returned quickly and stood weeping outside the tomb. An eventful morning! I can imagine Mary had so much running through her mind that she didn’t recognise Jesus as he appeared to her. Jesus then calls her name, and she immediately recognises the voice calling out to her - and her amazed excitement shows! 

Jesus says in John 10,’My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me’. The invitation and the challenge today are to recognise his voice. Jesus speaks but often we're so caught up in life that we don't stop to hear his voice, calling us by name. A voice that is full of love and comfort, waiting to speak to us today. 

Apply: How do we learn to recognise and continue to hear his voice? Through prayer and reading our Bibles. Prayer is our lifeline, and it is an essential part of our lives as Christians. Charles Spurgeon says: ‘Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation’. If we are to hear his voice and recognise it, let us be people committed to prayer.

Reflect on how you can make more space in your day to pray.

Devote: Father, help me to recognise your voice today.