THE WOMEN who had seen the evidence of the Lord’s resurrection, were told by the angel to go to the disciples and tell them that He was risen and would appear unto them in Galilee. What a wonderful message this was! The One for whom they had sorrowed so much and whom they thought was dead, was now alive and would soon disclose Himself to His own.
“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.” v. 9. Although the women in the foregoing verses had appeared at the tomb very early, Mary Magdalene had been there first. She had gone to the grave the moment she was no longer confined to her home by the law of the Sabbath day. We are told of this in John 20:11The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. (John 20:1): “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away.” Therefore, when the others arrived, Mary—unknown to them—had already come and was gone to tell Peter and John what she had discovered.
In her absence the other women came with their loving tributes and left with their message, as we have noticed. Then, after they departed, Peter, John and Mary returned to the scene. The two disciples, after entering into the sepulcher, observed that the Lord was risen and then returned to their home. But Mary—still not entering into the grand truth of all she had seen—stayed behind alone and it was then that the Lord appeared to her in our ninth verse. In John’s Gospel we have a more detailed account of this touching scene: “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith until Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say Master.” John 20:15, 1615Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (John 20:15‑16).
Then Mary, like the other women, is given a message for the disciples. But it is interesting to notice the difference in these messages. The women were told by the angel to tell the disciples that the Lord would meet them in Galilee. This was an earthly promise and reminds us of His encouragement to the faithful remnant of His people Israel, who will, in a coming day, again know Him as their Messiah, rejected, slain, but alive again and their true Jehovah. Mary’s message from Jesus was different: “Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” Here was a heavenly promise and the association of His own with Himself as brethren and in relationship with God the Father. Perhaps it was Mary’s deeper affection for her Lord that gave her the brightest message for His followers.
“And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.” vv. 10, 11. It is strange for us to look in on this scene and observe their disbelief. We would rather think they would leap and shout for joy, but it just seemed too much for these sorrowing disciples to grasp. They therefore remained in doubt in spite of this message and other reports, until later when the Lord manifested Himself to them.
ML-07/12/1964