What's In A Name?

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). [John 20.11-16]

What's in a name?

Why is it that Mary did not recognize Jesus until He called her name? He spoke to her before then, but it wasn't until He called her name that she recognized Him.

I believe it is because a person's name increasingly means more as they grow into it. It goes without saying that most of us embrace our respective names the longer we live with them. When someone calls another person's name, there is an immediate "connection" established that previously may have been non-existent.

I have lived to see this repeatedly in my life. I pray for long lists of people. I call their names out in prayer. Sometimes I simply call their name and other times, as I feel led, I may pray more specifically for circumstances or situations in that particular person's life. But I am committed to speak the names of those I have committed to pray for every day regardless.

Now, just because I pray for someone by name does not necessarily mean I know that person or, that they know me. And here is where I feel connected with Jesus calling out Mary's name... When I cross paths with a person I have been praying for who may or may not have ever met me or remember having met me as the case may be, and I call out their name, I have witnessed uncannily similar responses. Without exception, there is always some degree of surprise. Then, in that moment, I have found predictable "ministry" to that person when asked how I know their name and I reply that I have been praying for them.

A particular instance of this is worth telling here. Years ago, I had committed to pray for a family of thirteen: a man, his wife, and eleven children. I prayed for them, each by name every day for over a year. I was speaking in the church where that family attended (and was in attendance that day) about the topic of prayer, and the subject of this writing in particular. So, as an example of the power of praying for people by name, and, without script or even previously planning to do so, I looked that mother in the eye from where I was speaking and I called out the names of her eleven children in order of birth to her. What did she do? She did what only a mother of eleven children could do in that situation: she broke down in tears. Why? Because names mean something!

What's in a name? Relationship. Whether is it familial relationship, social relationship, or a spiritual connection beyond explanation, a name is about "knowing." I can't speak for everyone, but I find comfort in this.

Father, thank You for knowing my name. Thank You for those who call out my name in prayer. Thank You for those whose names I call out in prayer whose lives I have witnessed You work in.