Jesus said to her, "Mary."

"They have taken my Lord away", she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this. she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did n't realize that it was Jesus. 

He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" 

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away tell me where you have   put him, and I will get him."

     Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher.")

John 20:13-16

Christ has risen! He wastes no time in revealing himself to the disciples and to his followers. Mary enters the tomb only to discover that the body of her Lord is missing. She is broken and weeps in devastation. I can just imagine her pain. I can hear the sobs and envision her body heaving as she mourns yet another injustice to Jesus, her innocent friend.

Without realizing who is speaking to her, Jesus asks Mary two simple questions; Why are you crying? and Who is it you are looking for? She responds with the hard to speak words that her master's body is missing. She pleads for the "gardener" to show her to the body.

And with one simply spoken word, Jesus reveals his identity. He simply says, "Mary!" At that very instant, Mary turns toward Jesus and cries out to him. 

This is one of my favorite parts of the Easter story for a few reasons. One, I love the passion that Mary has for Jesus. She loved him beyond the grave. She didn't just mourn his death, she wanted to care for his body as well. 

Another reason I love this part is because Mary wasn't expecting Jesus to show up. Mary had witnessed his death. She was sad, tired, and hopeless, and there unexpectedly, Jesus showed up to restore hope! His resurrection from death is surprising to her even though he had told them he would rebuild the temple (his body) in three days. He'd promised her! And with one small encounter,  the speaking of her name, Jesus touched her heart once again!

He does these things for us yet today. Because he has risen and claimed the victory over death, because his blood was shed, we are all able to encounter his surprising touch. He calls us by name and when we turn around to see him, he will restore all hope! Whatever situation you are in, cry for the touch of your healer. When all hope seems lost, he will show up! I know so, because I've heard him call my name too!