Joh 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
Jesus had just risen. The first person He reveals Himself to was His fervent true seeker Mary Magdalene. She had sought Him in life, in death and even when His body seemed to be missing, supposing it was removed or stolen. After Peter and John confirmed His body missing, they sought no further and returned home to tell the rest. Mary remained weeping even talking to one she assumed to be a gardener to help her find Him. This Man turned out to be Jesus. Jesus called her by name and she immediately recognized His voice and responded by calling Him teacher.
Sometimes when the vision is clouded, if you will from tears of sorrows, and you can’t see clearly mistaking things or people to be what they are not, it may take a familiar voice to confirm, assure and restore the vision and confidence. Jesus in His early teachings said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Joh 10:27). Mary heard the voice but rather than be terrified, she was comforted because the voice of the Shepherd is soft, gentle and recognizable. When Elijah was discouraged, depressed and suicidal, instead of God appearing to him in thunderous ways as he expected, God appeared to him in a still small voice. With that same voice He turned Mary’s sorrows into dancing. The voice of a mother is recognized by a child. She recognized His voice because of His earlier many encounters with her. May we more and more be in His word learning His true voice and resting upon it when everything else even His appearance in our sorrows are clouded.