The call

by Maria Rudolph

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Jesus said to her, ‘Mary’ (John 20:16a).

Read John 20:1–18

This account of Easter Sunday from John’s Gospel was the one we heard at our Easter services this year. For me, the first one on that day was a dawn service in Kings Park, a majestic green sanctuary located on a rock overlooking the CBD of Perth, girded by the Swan River, with the Perth Hills forming a beautiful backdrop. The service started in deep darkness, much the way it would have been for Mary Magdalene when she rushed to the tomb before daybreak. She could just make out the outline of the stone rolled away from the entrance. It is darkest just before dawn. The Light of the World was not there. He had risen.

As the dawn service progressed, the sky above the Perth CBD turned from red, to purple, to pink, and then the golden gleam of the sun bathed the glassy high-rises and watery surface of the Swan River in its splendour. Mary returned to the tomb in the light of day and stood outside crying. The Light of the World had returned and stood before her, yet she could not recognise him. He needed to call her by name. ‘Mary.’ And with that, her eyes were open. All her joy, hope and longing was there in Jesus.

You – wherever you may be reading this devotion today – are also called by name by Jesus, the Light of the World. You are his (Isaiah 43:1). The light of his dawn brightens even your greatest darkness. Turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face, as Mary did that day in the garden. Now feel encouraged to do as Jesus tells her that first Easter morning: Go and tell of him to others, so they can hear the calling voice of their Shepherd, too, and walk in his light.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for dying and rising again from the dead. Because of you, death has no sting, and I can live in the joy and light of your love forevermore. Thank you for calling me by name. Help me go and tell of your good news to those around me. Amen.

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