When Jesus Calls You By Name

“Mary!” Jesus said. ~ John 20:16

Our son, Nolan, played football in high school and college. As an offensive lineman, he had to learn to hold very still until the ball was snapped. Since even a twitch caused a penalty, this can often be a very challenging discipline for a lineman.

Many times, fans from the other side would try to make noise to throw off the O-line. There were times, however, when the fans from the opposing team would go as far as to call out the offensive linemen by name. Nolan told us, that hearing his name was extremely distracting.

“There’s something about hearing your name that gets your attention,” he said.

This is a powerful truth. There is something very special about your name. It is unique and belongs to you. It’s your identity.

I had never really thought about the importance of a name until Easter 2016. Our church had an amazing Easter Sunday celebration. The service was full of joy as we celebrated the resurrected Savior of the world. My favorite part of the morning, however, was a clip they showed on Mary Magdalene weeping outside of Jesus’s tomb. It was the scene from John 20:13-16:

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her.“Who are you looking for?”

She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

 “Mary!” Jesus said.

She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

As I watched this scene and heard Jesus call Mary so fondly, my eyes welled up with tears (I later found out everyone in my family had the same reaction). Not only was I touched at the thought of Jesus calling Mary by her name, but I was also humbled by the deeper meaning behind it.

It was days after, as I meditated on this experience, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, “Tweeny, Jesus calls you by name too.”

Jesus calls you by your name too.

There is something extremely tender about this truth. When imagining the Lord Jesus Christ, lovingly, saying your name you get a feeling of comfort and security.

Jesus knows your name.

I hope, like me, you feel an exhilaration as you allow this reality to invade your heart. I hope you are in awe at how personal the God of the universe is.

Jesus calls you by name because He loves you, He chose you, He wants you, He accepts you. It doesn’t matter how anyone else defines you. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances are saying to you. What matters is that God knows you (Psalm 139:1-4).

Jesus calls you by name.

He delights in you. You are beautiful in His sight.

It’s not about your performance. It’s not about what you may think success is or isn’t. In His eyes you are victorious. In fact you are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). He’s proud of you. He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16).

You are precious, honored and loved by God (Isaiah 43:4). No one else has to notice you, because He does.

He  thinks so much of you that He has engraved your name on the palm of His hand (Isaiah 49:15-16).

He treasures you. You are valuable to Him (Romans 5:6-8).

Jesus cherishes your name.

The next time your heart aches, and you start to feel lonely, rejected, or you start to doubt your worth, pause and think about this powerful truth: Jesus knows and calls you by your name. Stand up straight, shake off any fear or anxiety that’s trying to latch on to you, and respond to His sweet gentle voice calling you… by your name.

You are His, and He is yours, forever and ever.

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
    O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
    I have called you by name; you are mine.” ~ Isaiah 43:1