John 20:16
“Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus calls her by name, Mary, and she recognizes him as her Master.
Context
The risen Jesus reveals himself to Mary by calling her name.
What Does John 20:16 Mean?
One word. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. He calls her by name, and in that name she knows him. The voice, or the presence, or the reality of it—something in that utterance of her name cracks the veil. She turns herself, and she cries out, Rabboni. Master. The word Aramaic, the language of intimacy and first-hand knowledge. Not Lord, but Master—the one who taught her, who knew her, who had formed her. In that instant, all the seeking is transformed. The gardener is Jesus. The body is risen. Death has been overcome. The woman who stood alone weeping at the tomb now stands face to face with the living Christ.
It is significant that Jesus does not say, 'Behold, I am risen.' He does not lecture or explain. He calls her by name, and that is sufficient. In that personal word, the resurrection becomes not a doctrine but a meeting. It becomes a transformation of relationship, from the disciple seeking the dead to the disciple encountering the living. Love makes her capable of recognizing him in the moment when he speaks her name. She sought and sought, and the seeking brought her to the moment when her Master could meet her.
In the Original Language
Rabboni (Aramaic, 'my master, my rabbi') -- a term of intense respect and personal relationship, the language of intimate discipleship.
Application
We are known by name by the risen Christ. In the depth of our seeking, we may hear him call us, and in that moment, everything changes.