Recognition (1) - a time for everything*

NORSK
It is very interesting to notice that many of those who saw Jesus after the resurrection did not recognize him at first. They needed time to understand that it was Jesus.

In the course of the next few days I will reflect on a few examples of these ‘revelations’ or ‘discoveries’. It is an easy choice to start with Maria. There was a time when she did not recognize him, and then all of a sudden came an affirmation:

“…she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”
John 20:14-16

Maria recognized him in the way he called her name. There is a ‘flavour’ of something prophetic by recognizing him in the way he calls us by our names. Isaiah prophesied to the people of Israel:

I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1b

Why was this an important part of Jesus' teaching in the 40 days he had at his disposal?

I think it was important for the resurrected Jesus that the believers eventually would discover him in one another. Therefore, he practically 'trained' them to recognise him so that they would recognise him in revealed in his future body – the church. This is my simple belief, and several examples will follow.

‘Manna’ for today:

I know him in the way he calls me.

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(1) The illustration in the logo of the label “His Master's Voice” is the dog 'Nipper' listening to his master’s voice. 
* 'A time for everything' is connected with the Bible's teaching about a 'season for every activity'
 Eccl 3 This series is about the teaching in the time between Easter and Pentecost.