Mark 16:9-11 (NKJV) Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
(Matt. 28:9, 10; John 20:11–18)
9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
V9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
This would be Sunday morning. Women were the first witnesses. Jews for Jesus states in part: “Women were not allowed to testify in court. In effect, this categorized them with Gentiles, minors, deaf-mutes, and “undesirables” such as gamblers, the insane, usurers, and pigeon-racers, who were also denied that privilege. (On the other hand, a king could not bear witness in court, nor could the Messiah, which somewhat lessens the stigma of that restriction.)” (Source: https://jewsforjesus.org/learn/the-role-of-women-in-the-bible).
Mary Magdalene, the first witness to Jesus’s resurrection, saw Him alive in person. She had great love and loyalty for our Lord Jesus, perhaps because of her healing. The principle for this is found in Luke 7:36-50.
V10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.
She obeyed Jesus (John 20:17). The other disciples are mourning and weeping. Their hopes and desires were dashed to dust. They heard that Jesus would raise from the dead, but as the Scriptures state, “They did not understand.” See Luke 18:31-34.
V11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
They did not believe because 1) it seemed impossible and 2) she was a woman.
We are to test all things by Scripture; Jesus had plainly told them that He would suffer, be flogged, be killed, buried, and would rise from the dead.
We learn:
- We need to know and believe the Scriptures.
- The joy of forgiveness inspires our motives to be loyal to Jesus and His teaching.
- To obey Jesus.
Questions:
- How would we have responded to the news of Jesus’s resurrection?