Sermon -- Easter Dawn (April 21, 2019)

JOHN 20:1-18

MEDITATION ON THE 

RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD. 

“He Even Calls Me By My Name.”

In the name + of Jesus.

     Mary Magdalene owed a lot to Jesus.  St. Mark informs us that Jesus had not only cast a demon out of Mary, but seven demons.  Who knows the level of torment and anguish those demons had afflicted on her?  But Jesus set her free.  Therefore she faithfully and zealously followed Jesus, supporting him out of her own wealth as Jesus preached the gospel and set other people free from the devil's kingdom.  As overjoyed as Mary was by Jesus' presence and teaching, she was just as overwhelmed with sorrow and grief at watching him be crucified, seeing his lifeless body wrapped for burial, and then gazing at the tomb where the stone sealed in Jesus' corpse.
     Now, Mary could only honor Jesus by anointing his body with spices.  But when she and others arrived at the tomb at the dawn of Sunday, she couldn't even do that.  The stone had been rolled away.  The tomb was empty.  Jesus was gone.  Grief was magnified with panic.  She ran to tell the apostles.  They ran to inspect the tomb.  Mary followed them back, finding the tomb still empty and herself coming up empty with answers or solutions.  She was reduced to tears; and so, she wept.
     When Mary Magdalene spoke of Jesus, she called him Lord and Teacher.  For her, there was no doubt as to who Jesus was.  He had the words of eternal life, but she thought his life had been snuffed out.  He was Lord over the devil, but she feared the devil had triumphed.  Perhaps the demons had the last laugh after all.  Death appeared victorious.  What else was there to do but weep?  If life is nothing but a series of strange events—some good, some bad—that ends up at a grave and that's it, you must wonder what's the point of life at all?  If it is all meaningless, why even be here?
     But life is not meaningless.  Neither was Mary Magdalene, and neither are you.  Jesus appeared to Mary.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15)  She did not recognize him at first, not when he addressed her as “woman,” or “ma'am.”  Merely being polite did not bring comfort.  Therefore, Jesus said to her, “Mary.”  She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20:16)  He called her by name.  It is no accident that this is what revealed Jesus' resurrection to her.  She rightly called him “Lord,” for he had ransomed her from the devil's grasp.  But she was no anonymous servant.  She was not merely one of the crowds he had healed.  She was his beloved disciple.  He even calls her by name because she is not meaningless.  She is loved.  She is redeemed.  And she is his.
     The Lord calls you by name as well.  You have been marked with Jesus' name in holy baptism.  Your baptism connects you to Jesus intimately.  His innocence becomes your innocence.  His death becomes your death; for, your sin was put to death with Jesus.  Now you are free from the devil's claims and accusations.  Jesus' resurrection becomes your resurrection.  You have been raised up anew—a saint in God's kingdom.  And you are set apart for the resurrection from the grave to everlasting life and glory, just like Jesus.  Your life is not meaningless; for you are a child of God who serves him with works that God himself has given you to do.  God delights in you.  He counts the hairs on your head.  He watches your life with interest.  He directs your steps so that you remain under his grace and devoted to good works for your family, your friends, and even strangers.  It is not meaningless; it is for God's honor.
     Though the world may not see your works, Jesus does.  Though your family may not think you are a saint, Jesus does.  Though the world may not know your name, Jesus does.  Just as Jesus has marked you with his name, so he knows yours.  You are not reduced to a number.  You are not just one of the crowd to the Lord.  You are his—beloved, redeemed, and precious.  He knows your name and has written it in the Book of Life.  For, Jesus lives.  And since you are his, you shall live because of him, and you shall live with him forevermore.  He has sworn it by his name.  And he even calls you by your name to say so.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.