Easter Echoes

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” ~Isaiah 43:1-2

To hear someone we love say our name is a deep delight. There’s a sense of ownership wrapped up in it-- not so much in the sense that “I own you,” but rather “you’re mine.” Love naturally binds, because Love is three in one. If our God were not triune, then I think that love would be impossible.

What must it be like to hear our Creator say our name? I think this passage in Isaiah tells us that it would conquer fear once and for all. It did for Mary in the garden.

Could it be that Christ’s death and resurrection is all one vast calling of our names? All one monumental effort to draw us back to himself after we left him? To draw us back into a garden, to look deep into our world-weary eyes and ask us, “why are you weeping?” Something within me feels that his sacrifice and rising again is also one resounding word sharply directed to the Prince of this world, “this one is mine, keep away.” And all the powers of hell bow down to him, for he has killed death, and he has made us his own.

See him walking from the tomb to where you sit weeping. See the scars on his hands and hear him murmuring your name with all the familiarity and dearness of love, hear his words echoing through the halls of your heart: “Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine.”