Title: Resurrection of Jesus
Mary Magdalene, whom the resurrected Lord first met, was an ordinary woman.
Why was she the first to meet the risen Lord and to be the first witness of the resurrection?
1. Those who have experienced the grace of the Lord
One day when Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven demons, she was healed by the grace of Jesus and has served Jesus since then. She knew how expensive the grace was. And when the Lord was nailed to the cross, they followed him to the bottom of the cross, and at dawn on the first day after the Sabbath, they ran to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.
2. Becoming a believer in the resurrection by meeting the risen Lord
Mary Magdalene did not believe in the resurrection from the beginning, but went up to the garden to anoint the body of Jesus, and although at first frightened and fled, she became the first witness of the resurrection.
The women, including her, had passion and longing, so even after Jesus died on the cross, they did not give up and tried to do their best for Jesus. Jesus valued this and met him.
Jesus said countless times that he would rise again three days after he died, but no one believed and waited for it.
“When they heard that Jesus was alive and that he had been seen by Mary, they did not believe it” (verse 11).
Then Jesus rebuked them, saying, “He rebuked them for their unbelief and for their hardened heart, because they did not believe the words of those who saw him alive” (verse 14).
3. The result of believing in the risen Lord
(1) sadness disappears
When Mary Magdalene was weeping when she saw the body of Jesus gone early in the morning, the Lord said: “Jesus said, ‘Mary,’ and Mary turned and said in Hebrew, Raboni.” (John 20:16)
Anyone who meets the living Lord can experience the grace of turning sorrow into joy.
(2) Becoming a bold preacher of the resurrection
The command of the Lord, delivered by the angel whom he met at the tomb, was “Go and say to his disciples and Peter, ‘Jesus is going before you into Galilee, and there you will see him, as he told you before’” (verse 7). He obeyed even in fear.
This is not just a command for her, but the same great command for us today.
“And he said, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (verse 15).
And there are signs that follow those who believe and preach the gospel.
“And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” verses 17-18)
(3) Overcoming the power of death
Death has great power and conquers everything. “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
But only Jesus overcame this death. After Jesus died on the cross, He overcame the terrible power of death and rose again on the third day. So, everyone who believes in Jesus overcomes the power of death and is set free from the fear of death.
“But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20).