Mark 16:9. Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
What every legitimate historian will agree with is that Jesus of Nazareth died from Roman crucifixion. What nearly every legitimate historian will also agree with is that Jesus was believed to have appeared to many of his followers over the next several days. These appearances are what we will look at next in this Eastertide series.
The appearances of the risen Christ begin right away on Easter Sunday morning. As far as we can tell, Mary Magdalene is the first person to see the risen Jesus. John’s gospel tells us that she mistook him for the gardener before having her eyes opened as Jesus said her name.
Why Mary of Magdala?
First we might ask why a woman? In first century Palestine, women were considered second class citizens. Women could not testify in court. So why would God choose a woman to be the first person to testify to the resurrection of the Son of God?
Even more arguable is the choice to appear to a woman who once had seven demons living inside of her. Isn’t her exorcism grace enough? Does she deserve also to be the first to see, touch, and speak with the glorified Christ?
Of course she does not deserve it, no one does. None of us deserves to be in the presence of Jesus, especially the resurrected Jesus. But the purpose of the resurrection is not just to reveal God’s glory, but also his grace. And who needs more grace than Mary? Than you? Than me?
Maybe God chose Mary Magdalene precisely because her sin had been so great. But where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. Her seven demons represent the perfection of her torture. She was so far gone. So beyond any hope. A soul lost to the destruction of the devil. Until Christ came. There is no pit so deep that Jesus cannot reach the one who has fallen into its trap.
Maybe God chose Mary to reveal his plan for a new humanity. If Jesus is the new Adam, then maybe Mary represents the new Eve, the Church. In that ancient garden, Eve was the first to transgress and bring about our sin and sorrow. Let Mary, in this new garden, be the first to see the promised justification of God through the seed of the woman. Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the tree. Let Mary be the one who receives the fruit of righteousness from the Savior who died on a tree.
Maybe God chose Mary as a reward for her faithfulness. Yes, all is grace, but God still loves to reward faith with the blessing of the presence of Christ. Mary’s faith and gratitude led her to give up all she had to follow Jesus. Mary Magdalene is one of the women listed in Luke 8 as having always been with Christ, sustaining his ministry with her own substance, meeting needs, learning, caring, serving, sorrowing, walking every mile that he walked, bearing his reproach, and carrying her own cross.
Maybe the better question is why has God chosen us to see the risen Savior? Is not our sin just as egregious, our bondage just as horrific? Are we not all Eve and Mary the Magdalene? But isn’t the grace of God the same yesterday, today, and forever. Does not the resurrected Jesus appear to us all the moment we cry out to him in faith.
Mary sought the Lord in the garden that Easter morning. Who or what are you seeking? Are you looking for the garden’s forbidden fruit or are you clinging to the Gardener?
John 20:16-18. 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Mary knew Christ’s voice that morning. When Jesus spoke her name she instantly recognized her Lord. Learn to listen. Learn to hear the voice of Jesus calling out to you from within you, reminding you to come to him, clinging to him in his grace and mercy, until he takes us all to the Father.
You: In what ways do you seek the Lord Jesus like Mary did?
You in Christ: How can knowing that having the presence of the resurrected Jesus with you is all of grace help to subdue your pride?
Christ in you: What will listening for the voice of Jesus look like for you today?
Prayer: Father, I you have revealed Christ to me by your grace. Let me cling to the grace of Jesus all the days of my life. Amen.
To Live is Christ 