Jhn 20:16 “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
After Jesus had risen from the tomb, His appearance had changed. Mary Magdalene was broken, weeping, and seeking the body of Jesus. When Jesus inquired who she was looking for, she supposed Him to be the gardener. When she heard Jesus call her name, she understood who He was. Believers recognize the voice of Jesus. Jhn 10:4 “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” Not only is His voice recognized by His own, but it is a source of joy to His friends. Jhn 3:29 “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. As the days continue and my days in this life accrue, I am stirred to hear His voice.” This sometimes may be confusing for some because what is implied is that believers are hearing His voice audibly. The believer may certainly experience the Lord speaking this way simply because we see the Lord doing this in His Word. We never want to fall into the trap of letting our experience dictate God’s Word, but rather God’s Word dictates our experience. The Gospel of John tells us: Jhn 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus is the Word. He speaks to us through His Word. Through my days I am capturing the truth that there is no real joy apart from Jesus. His voice is source of Joy. I must read, listen, and abide in His Word.