Jesus Is Calling Your Name: Why Easter Still Changes Everything

Easter is more than a holiday—it’s the heartbeat of the Christian faith. It’s the reason the church gathers every week. It’s the foundation of our hope. Easter is the ultimate declaration that death does not have the final word.

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of preaching from John 20, where Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and the risen Jesus calls her by name. That moment is the turning point—not just for her, but for all of us.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important miracle in history. And it really happened. As I shared with our church, even secular scholars and religious skeptics agree on several core facts about Easter:

• Jesus of Nazareth was a real person
• He lived in the first century A.D.
• He was crucified in Jerusalem under Roman authority

The question isn’t whether Jesus died—the question is what happened next. And what happened next is that everything changed.

Jesus didn’t just come back to life. He called his disciples by name. He appeared to Mary. He showed up for Thomas. He walked alongside two heartbroken followers on the road to Emmaus. For forty days, he showed himself alive “by many proofs” reviving the faith of people who had doubted, despaired, and run away (Acts 1:3).

On Sunday, I told our church about a moment when I chased a runaway dog named Jax all over my neighborhood. I was in people’s backyards and on their porches yelling his name—muddy shoes, bruised pride, and all.

That story is funny now, but it’s also a picture of what Jesus does for each of us. He chases us down, not with anger or frustration, but with unbelievable grace. That’s because Jesus is the “Hound of Heaven,” as pastor John Stott once called him—relentless in love and mercy.

Here’s one of my favorite quotes from Stott’s book, Why I Am A Christian:

Here’s the good news: Jesus still pursues us and calls us by name.

Maybe you’ve heard him before and responded in faith. Or maybe you’ve been running away even though you’ve heard him calling. Maybe you’ve doubted like Thomas or forgotten like the disciples. But here you are. And Jesus is still calling.

The empty tomb is not just a historical event. It’s an invitation. The risen Jesus is calling your name today. Will you stop running? Will you listen and believe?

Only Jesus can save you from your sins and save you from yourself. But if you will stop running and put your faith and trust in him, he will take care of everything else.