Calling Your Name (May 24)

I went back to the last place I'd known Him to be; Every promise He'd once spoken seemed only for me; I don't know just how it happened; But in the midst of all my pain; Softly sweetly I heard Jesus calling my name. Calling my name, calling my name; Never I'd heard it with such sweet refrain; Through the tears all darkness vanished; I'll never be the same; Since the morning I heard Jesus calling my name. “Touch me not 'til I've ascended to my Father,” said He; Go and tell all others fearful they've no need to be; Be not faithless but believing He's coming again; For I tell you that I've heard Him calling my name. ©2002 Carter Conlon Music. “Calling My Name.” Quiet Times. Carter Conlon.

John 20:14-16

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

Mary had lost Jesus. He was dead and she was coming to anoint the body when she found the tomb empty. She didn't know where He was. Had someone moved the body for some reason? Had someone stolen the body? Did she suddenly become anxious? Did she worry? She asked the gardener if He moved it. I have to find Him. I am lost without Him. What am I going to do? Mary. She heard her name. She heard it like she had never heard it before. It was Him. It was Him!

John 11:39-44

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Lazarus was dead. Dead people don't hear. They don't do much of anything. There was no life whatsoever in his body. In fact, Martha put it quite bluntly when she said, “He's been dead four days: he stinks!” Why would Jesus want to open the tomb with a stinky dead body inside? Lazarus had been dead for awhile. There was no chance of being alive. The body was full of decay. It was beginning to rot away. Lazarus. He heard his name. Everyone heard it. Jesus had called out his name. Never before had anyone ever heard such a call. The dead man heard Jesus call out his name and he came out to meet Him! He wasn't rotting or decaying: his body was now full of life...every bit of him full of life!

If you listen, you will hear Jesus calling out your name. [Insert name] come and meet me. Come out of death and into life. [Insert name] I have a place for you. I love you and want you to fellowship with me in my Father's house. [Insert name] I am right here. You were looking for me because you knew that I used to be in your life and you miss me. I miss you too; come let us walk together. [Insert name] I have a great job for you to do. I want you to serve me in my kingdom and you can do that by praying for your pastors and teachers, and by sharing your testimony with others. I heard Jesus calling my name. Since that day, I'll never be the same. You too can experience that glory when you hear Him call you. Listen. [Insert name].