Saturday was my mom’s birthday. I went back through old videos of her because I love to hear her voice. I will never forget my mom’s voice. I can still hear it even though she passed away over six years ago.
There is something about the bond between a mother and their child. A baby recognizes their mother’s voice at birth, and often even before they are born. They learn to identify this sound while in the womb, starting around 25–30 weeks. A mother’s voice reduces stress and increases bonding in the baby. They prefer their mother’s voice over strangers’, which acts as a powerful bonding tool and security signal immediately after birth. A baby and their mother develop a relationship beginning with hearing a voice.
Yesterday, as we all know, was Easter. What a celebration that Jesus was resurrected after dying on the cross for all our sins. In his sermon at FMC Stuttgart, brother Bryan discussed Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene had a relationship with Jesus. He had transformed her. He delivered her from a life that caused her to struggle horribly. He stepped into her life and spoke life into her chaos. He cast demons out and restored her. He spoke to her early in His ministry and called her by name. Mary became a follower and a devoted disciple. She walked with him, listening very intently to every word he spoke. Mary and Jesus had a bond that couldn’t be broken.
When Jesus was crucified, Mary was there. She was at the foot of the cross while others left. After they placed Jesus in the tomb, Mary returned on Sunday to find it empty. As she turned around, Jesus was there. He had been resurrected, but she didn’t recognize Him. Mary was distressed, weeping, and looking at an empty tomb, which caused her to miss recognizing him at first, possibly because she did not expect to see him alive. She didn’t recognize Him until He spoke and called her Mary. The exchange highlights Jesus as the shepherd who “calls his own sheep by name” (John 10:3), indicating she recognized his personal, familiar voice. The familiar voice that had transformed her, rescued her, saved her. The voice that she bonded with, with which she had a relationship. (John 20)
Jesus can be that way with you and me. We can form a relationship and a bond with Him and recognize his voice when He speaks to us. He is the good Shepard that calls us, the one who was crucified for us. But to hear Him speak involves cultivating a relationship through habits such as studying His word, praying in the stillness, and quietly reflecting, setting aside time to spend with Him.
I think back to how much time I spent with my mom and how I would recognize her voice anywhere; the same is true of Jesus. When we spend time with Him, we can hear His voice.
So do these things:
- 1. Show up for JESUS every day – Start your day in the Word.
- 2. Show up for OTHERS – Serve others, whether or not they are like you, whether or not they annoy you, or are difficult to understand. That is what Jesus did; He showed up for everyone.
- 3. Show up for YOU – Fill your cup before you help fill others’ cups.
We find true joy when we intentionally show up for Jesus, for others, and for ourselves.
As Father Mike says, “You pray for me, and I will pray for you.”
As Tara Leigh says: He’s where the joy is.
Have a great week, Cupcake loves you and so does Jesus.
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