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May 19, 2023 18:30pm

Jesus Has Called You By Name

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Alone.

Ashamed.

Regret.

When you’ve done something wrong, this is where you find yourself. You were even warned it was going to happen, and yet, here you are.

Guilty.

You want to hide from it all; you don’t even know where to begin to get back to where you were or to start over.

But imagine if the very one you hurt, the one you wronged, were to call you out by name and invite you to join them once again?

In the final chapter of Mark, we uncover some beautiful truths about Jesus, His resurrection, and His love.

“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:1-8)

This is the single most important piece of history for a follower of Christ. What is it?

The resurrection!

These women went to put the burial spices on Jesus. I can imagine the feelings of heartache and grief the women must have been feeling. They had watched His torture and death and now would be seeing His lifeless body. They were distraught as they realized they may not be able to do this service for Him because the stone was in place and they wouldn’t be able to move it.

Who will roll the stone for us? Who will open the door? Who will help us in this time of need?

As they approached, you can imagine the shock when they saw the stone was already moved and Jesus was gone! They were startled and afraid when a man, an angel of the Lord, spoke to them and told them He wasn’t there.

Jesus had said as much. He had told them He would live. But they were the first to see it!

I love this next part. Look what he says to them.

“But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

Out of all the people, who does he call out by name?

Peter.

The guy that betrayed Him.

The guy that swore he would stand by Jesus no matter what, and then denied Him just as predicted.

The guy who was hiding in his shame, feeling alone, filled with regret and guilt.

But Peter was called out by name to go meet Jesus.

This.

Jesus sees you. He sees you sitting in the darkness, alone, guilty, ashamed. He sees everything you are going through and all that you’ve done and said, and then, He calls you out by name and says, “Come.”

Don’t you want that?

To know that God Himself would see me at my worst and still desire to wrap His arms around me and carry me away from all of this mess is the most beautiful thing I can imagine. To hear Jesus say my name as He opens His arms wide, forgiving everything I’ve done to Him and welcoming me home… that’s the best thing ever.

He’s calling your name today.

Can you hear it?

Stop and listen.

Don’t shut Him out, respond. Accept His invitation to come and surrender it all today. Let Him bear the burden you’re carrying. It was never meant for you.

Jesus has called you out by name. Will you go?