Jesus' First Appearance After Resurrection

JESUS WAS APPEARING FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Mark 16:9 9
When Jesus rose early on the first day of
the week, he appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene, out of
whom he had driven seven demons.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
Appearances Of The RisenOne
Mark 16:9-14
E. Johnson
I. THEY WERE REPEATED AND VARIED, So in the history of the Church
and the world; there are epochs of the manifestation of Christ and of apparent
concealment. Thoughhistory in one sense repeats itself, in another it does not.
Christianity is the exhibition of the new in the old, the old in the new. And so
in the individual.
II. THEY WERE MET BY PREJUDICE. New truth finds in us something
ever to over-come. The victory over a prejudice gives us cause forthanks;
what we really possessoftruth we possess becausewe have resistedit. We do
not understand it till we have contendedagainstit. "We may believe more
surely in the Resurrection, because theywere so slow to believe."
III. THE SPIRITUAL EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITYIS THE REAL
EVIDENCE, Unless we see that Christ's resurrectioncoincides with spiritual
truth and needs, we shall not see it at all. Mediate knowledge cannever be free
from doubt; certainty lies in that which is immediate. - J.

Biblical Illustrator
Now when Jesus was risen.
Mark 16:9
Evidence of the fact of Christ's resurrection
Canon Liddon.The empty tomb of Jesus recalls anevent which is as well
attestedas any in history. It is so attestedas to put the idea of what is called
"illusion" out of the question. The main purpose, the first duty, of the
apostolic ministry was to witness to the fact that Christ had risen. The
apostles did not teachthe resurrectionas a revealed truth, as. they taught,
e.g., the doctrine of justification; they taught the resurrectionas a fact of
experience — a fact of which they themselves had had experience. And this is
why the different evangelists do not report the same appearancesofour risen
Lord. Eachone reports that which he himself witnessed, orthat which was
witnessedby the eyewitness onwhose authority he writes. Put the various
attestations together, andthe evidence is irresistible. That which these
witnesses attestmust be true, unless they have conspiredto deceive us, or are
themselves deceived. The idea that they are deceived, however, cannotbe
entertained by any man who understands human character;the idea that they
were themselves deceivedis inconsistentwith the characterofthe witness
which they give. No doubt there are states of hallucination, states of mental
tension, in which a man may fancy that he sees something which does not in
fact present itself to his senses. The imaginationfor the moment is so energetic
as to impose upon the senses animpression which corresponds to that,
whateverit be, which creates anemotion within the soul. Nay more, the New
Testamentitself speaks ofinward revelations, sometimes during sleep,
sometimes during the waking hours, as was that rapture of which St. Paul
wrote, into "the third heaven, whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether
out of the body I cannot tell — God knoweth." But the accounts of the
appearances ofour risen Lord do not at all admit of either of these
explanations. If He had been seenonly for a passing moment, only by one or
two individuals separately, only in one setof circumstances, under one setof
conditions againand againrepeated, then there would have been room for the
suspicionof a morbid hallucination, or at leastof an inward vision. But what
is the realstate of the case? The risenOne was seenfive times on the day that
He was raised from the dead; He was seena week after;He was seenmore
than a month after that; and frequently, on many occasions, during the

interval; He was seenby womenalone, by men alone, by parties of two and
three, by disciples assembledin conclave, by multitudes of men, five hundred
at a time; He was seenin a garden, in a public roadway, in an upper chamber,
on a mountain in Galilee, on the shore by the lake, in the village where His
friends dwelt. He taught as before His death, He instructed, He encouraged,
He reproved, He blessed, He uttered prolongeddiscourses whichwere
remembered, which were recorded; He explained passagesofScripture, He
revealedgreatdoctrines, He gave emphatic commands, He made large and
new promises, He communicated ministerial powers;and they who pressed
around Him knew that His risen body was no phantom form, for He ate and
drank before them just as in the days of yore, and they could, if they would,
have pressedtheir very fingers into the fresh wounds in His hands and feet
and side. In short, He left on a group of minds, most unlike eachother, one
profound ineffaceable impression, that they had seenand lived with One who
had died indeed and had risen again, and that this fact was in itself and in its
import so precious, so pregnant with meaning and with blessing to the human
race, that it threw in their minds all other facts into relative insignificance;it
was worth living for, it was worth dying for.
(Canon Liddon.)
He appeared first to Mary Magdalene
George Venabbes.TheSaviour's first appearance afterresurrectionwas to a
woman. For all He had died. But not to an assembledworld does He manifest
Himself now that He has risen victorious o'er the grave;not to angels, or
apostles;not to the faithful Joseph, or the true-hearted Nicodemus;but to a
woman!
I. THE CHARACTER OF THE PERSON TO WHOM CHRIST
APPEARED. A woman, and an inhabitant of a distant and unimportant town
bordering towards the Gentile frontier, who had been possessedof demons,
until Christ reachedforth to her the hand of pity.
II. THE CIRCUMSTANCESUNDER WHICH HE APPEARED TO HER. He
calledher by her name.
III. THE GRAND TRUTH HERE ILLUSTRATED.
1. It was not a mere chance encounter. Christ having already left the tomb,
must have purposely concealedHimself from all His disciples save the one
whom He wanted to see and comfort.
2. Jesus revealedHimself to her, unaccompanied by any. No angelhosts:
Christ was "allin all."

3. The manifestation was afforded in a garden to a woman. Eden: Eve.
(George Venabbes.)
The powerof the gospelto restore the fallen
W. Marsh, M. A.The flee grace ofthe gospel, and the holiness it produces,
distinguish it from every other system. It both justifies and sanctifies. In its
method of justifying, it gives glory to God, and brings peace to man. In its
method of sanctifying, it displays the fulness of grace, and delivers from the
powerof Satan.
I. THOSE WHO ARE MOST UNDER SATANIC INFLUENCE, ARE YET
WITHIN THE REACH OF THE GOSPEL.
1. The power of evil spirits would be exerted over both body and soul, if they
were not restrainedby a greaterpower. As it is, Satanblinds the mind; works
powerfully in the hearts of the children of disobedience;puts it into men's
hearts to betray the best of Masters, andto lie againstthe best Friend. All
sins, whether againstGod or againstmen, are committed in consequence of
his temptation.
2. No power cancounteractthis evil influence but that which is Divine. In
heathen countries Satan reigns uncontrolled; in Christian countries his
devices are revealed, all his malice is baffled, his kingdom is overthrown.
3. The gospelnot merely delivers men from Satanic influence, but exalts men
into the most holy characters.
II. THE GOSPELCAN EFFECTTHE REFORMATIONOF THE MOST
ABANDONED. No soonerwas MaryMagdalene dispossessed, than she
devotes herselfto the service of her Lord. So with all who heartily embrace
Christ's religion. The power of sin in them is destroyed, the influence of Satan
is dissolved, and they become willing captives of Christ's love. , in one of his
apologies,says, "O Emperor; we, who were formerly adulterers, are now
chaste;we, who used magic charms, now depend on the immortal God; we,
who loved money, now cheerfully contribute to the wants of all; we, who
would not sit down with those who were not of the same tribe with us, now
cheerfully sit among and pray for the conversionof them that hate us, and
persuade them to live according to the excellentprecepts of Christ."
1. Let us learn how admirably the gospelis adapted to the present state of
human nature. It finds us guilty, and reveals to us the sovereignmercy of God
in Christ. It subdues the corrupt heart; turns men from darkness to light, etc.
2. See whatground this affords for exertion, even in the most desperate cases.

(W. Marsh, M. A.)
Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.I. WHO SHE WAS. Christ revealedHimself first to a woman.
A woman out of whom He had castsevendevils. She had been a specialtrophy
of Christ's delivering power. In her mighty grace had proved its power. She
had become a constantattendant on the Saviour. She spent her substance in
relieving His wants.
II. HOW SHE SOUGHT. Very early in the morning. With very great
boldness. Very faithfully: stood at sepulchre. Very earnestly— weeping.
Perseveringly. SoughtChrist only. There was much ignorance, very little
faith, but much love.
III. HOW SHE FOUND HIM. Jesus Christ was discoveredto her by a word.
Her heart owned allegianceby another word. Her next impulse was to seek
close fellowship. She then entered on His service.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Mary Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.I. A melancholy instance of Satanic power.
II. A glorious trophy of Divine grace. The cure was unsought by her. Mary
resistedthe healing hand. She was healedby a word. She was healed
instantaneously.
III. An ardent followerof Christ.
IV. A faithful adherent to her Masterunder all trial.
V. One of the most favoured beholders of Christ.
VI. An honoured messengerofChrist to the apostles.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Woman first
C. H. Spurgeon.Wasit not most meet that a womanshould first see the risen
Saviour. She was first in the transgression, lether be first in the justification.
In yon garden she was first to work our woe;let her in that other garden be
the first to see Him who works our weal. She takes the apple of that bitter tree
which brings us all our sorrow;let her be the first to see the Mighty
Gardener, who has planted a tree which brings forth fruit unto everlasting
life.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)

Magdalene
C. H. Spurgeon.MaryMagdalene represents those who have come under the
tormenting and distracting power of Satan, and whose lamp of joy is
quenched in tenfold night. They are imprisoned not so much in the dens of sin
as in the dungeons of sorrow;not so criminal as they are wretched; not so
depraved as they are desolate.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Demented
C. H. Spurgeon.Personspossessedwith devils were unhappy; they found the
gloomof the sepulchre to be their most congenialresort. They were unsocial
and solitary. If they were permitted, they broke awayfrom all those dear
associationsofthe family circle which gave half the charms to life; they
delighted to wanderin dry places, seeking restand finding none; they were
pictures of misery, images of woe. Such was the seven-times unhappy
Magdalene, forinto her there had entered a complete band of devils. She was
overwhelmed with seven seas ofagony, loadedwith seven manacles ofdespair,
encircledwith sevenwalls of fire. Neither day nor night afforded her rest, her
brain was on fire, and her soul foamed like a boiling cauldron.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Demented
C. H. Spurgeon.To sum up much in few words, there is no doubt that Mary
Magdalene wouldhave been consideredby us to be demented; she was,
practically, a maniac. Reasonwas unshipped, and Satanstoodat the helm
instead of reason, and the poor barque was hurried hither and thither under
the guidance of demons.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
A modern illustration
C. H. Spurgeon.Iremember a man of excellentcharacter, well-belovedby his
family and esteemedby his neighbours, who was for twenty years enveloped
in unutterable gloom. He ceasedto attend the house of God, because he said it
was no use; and although always ready to help in every goodwork, yet he had
an abiding conviction upon him that, personally, he had no part nor lot in this
matter, and never could have. The more you talkedto him the worse he
became;even prayer seemedbut to excite him to more fearful despondency.
In the providence of God, I was called to preachthe Word in his
neighbourhood; he was induced to attend, and, by God's gracious power,
under the sermon he obtained a joyful liberty. After twenty years of anguish

and unrest, he ended his weary roamings at the foot of the cross, to the
amazement of his neighbours, the joy of his friends, and to the glory of God.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
Hope for the worst
C. H. Spurgeon.Until the gate of hell is shut upon a man, we must not ceaseto
pray for him; and if we see him hugging the very door posts of damnation, we
must go to the mercy seatand beseechthe arm of grace to pluck him from his
dangerous position. The case ofMary Magdalene is a looking glass in which
many souls, wrung with anguish, may see themselves.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(9-20)Now whenJesus was risen
early.—See NotesonMatthew 28:16-20. The history of the verses that follow
is in every wayremarkable. They are not found in two of the oldestMSS.—
the Sinaitic and the Vatican—are markedas doubtful in many others, and are
wanting in some versions. In some of these (e.g., in the Vatican MS.) there is a
blank space left between Mark 16:8 and the beginning of St. Luke, as though
the writer had suspendedhis work and waited for materials. The absence was
noticed by Jerome, who says that “nearly all the Greek texts omit them.”
Eusebius states the same fact as true of “the correctMSS.;” and no reference
is made to them in the tables of parallel passageswhich were constructedfor
reference by Eusebius and Ammonius. On the other hand, they are referred to
by Irenæus (about A.D. 170), and are found in the Alexandrian and
Cambridge MSS., and in twelve other uncials which are nearly (some say,
quite) as old as the two which omit them. When we turn to the internal
evidence we find that the narrative, which up to this point had followed
closelyin the footsteps of St. Matthew, now becomes a very condensed
epitome of St. John’s recordof our Lord’s appearance to Mary Magdalene
(Matthew 20:11-18), of St. Luke’s accountof the journey to Emmaus (Luke
24:13-35), ofthe appearance to the ten disciples in John 20:19-25 and Luke
24:36-43, ofthe missionof the eleven reported in Matthew 28:16-20, ofthe
Ascensionas given by Luke 24:50-53. Two explanations ofthese facts are
possible. (1) We may suppose that the writer of the Gospelwrote two copies of
it, leaving one unfinished, ending at Mark 16:8; that this passedinto the hands
of persons by whom it was copiedas complete, and so became the archetype of

the MSS. in which the verses are wanting; while those that contain the
subsequent verses were made from a more perfecttext, written by St. Mark
himself. (2) That the Gospel, having been originally completed by the writer,
was in some way, by accidentor design, mutilated; that as such it was
reproduced faithfully by some transcribers, while others thought it better to
give it a completion of some kind, by condensing what they found in the other
Gospels. Ofthe two hypotheses the latter seems the more probable. It seems
better, looking to these facts, to reserve notes, for the most part, for the
Gospels in which the narratives appearin what was probably their original
and certainly their fuller form.
(9-11)First to Mary Magdalene.—SeeNotes onJohn 20:11-18, but note that
St. Mark’s accountof her as one from whom Jesus “hadcastout sevendevils”
is not from St. John, but from Luke 8:2.
MacLaren's ExpositionsMark
THE INCREDULOUS DISCIPLES
‘FIRST TO MARY’
Mark 16:9.
A greatpile of legend has been built on the one or two notices of Mary
Magdalene in Scripture. Art, poetry, and philanthropy have acceptedand
inculcated these, till we almost feel as if they were bits of the Bible. But there
is not the shadow of a foundation for them. She has generallybeen identified
with the womanin Luke’s Gospel‘who was a sinner.’ There is no reasonat all
for that identification. On the contrary, there is a reasonagainstit, in the fact
that immediately after that narrative she is named as one of the little band of
women who ministered to Jesus.
Here is all that we know of her: that Christ castout the seven devils; that she
became one of the Galileanwomen, including the mothers of Jesus and of
John, who ‘ministered to Him of their substance’;that she was one of the
Marys at the Cross and saw the interment; that she came to the sepulchre,
heard the angel’s message, wentto John with it, came back and stood without
at the sepulchre, saw the Lord, and, having heard His voice and claspedHis
feet, returned to the little company, and then she drops out of the narrative
and is no more named. That is all. It is enough. There are large lessons in this
fact which Mark {or whoeverwrote this chapter} gives with such emphasis,

‘He appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene.’
Think what the Resurrectionis-how stupendous and wonderful! Who might
have been expectedto be its witnesses?But see!the first eye that beholds is
this poor sin-stained woman’s. What a distance betweenthe two extremes of
her experience-devil-ridden and gazing on the Risen Saviour!
I. An example of the depth to which the soulof man candescend.
This fact of possessionis very obscure and strange. I doubt whether we can
understand it. But I cannot see how we can bring it down to the level of mere
disease without involving Jesus Christ in the charge of consciouslyaiding in
upholding what, if it be not an awful truth, is one of the grimmest, ghastliest
superstitions that ever terrified men.
In all ways He gives in His adhesion to the fact of demoniacalpossession. He
speaks to the demons, and of them, rebukes them, holds conversations with
them, charges them to be silent. He distinguishes betweenpossessionand
diseases. ‘Healthe sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead’-these commands
bring togetherforms of sicknessrunning its course;why should He separate
from them His next command and endowment, ‘castout devils,’ unless
because He regarded demoniacalpossessionas separate from sicknessin any
form? He sees in His casting ofthem out the triumph over the personal power
of evil. ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.’But while the fact seems
to be established, the thing is only known to us by its signs. These were
madness, melancholy, sometimes dumbness, sometimes fits and convulsions;
the man was dominated by an alien power; there was a strange, awful double
consciousness;‘We are many,’ ‘My name is Legion.’There was absolute
control by this alien power, which like some parasiticalworm had rooted itself
within the poor wretch, and there lived upon his blood and life juices-only
that it lived in the spirit, dominated the will, and controlled the nature.
Probably there had always been the yielding to the impulse to sin of some sort,
or at any rate the man had opened the door for the devil to come in.
This woman had been in the deepestdepths of this awful abyss. ‘Seven’ is the
numerical symbol of completeness, so she had been utterly devil-ridden. And
she had once been a little child in some Galileanhome, and parents had seen
her budding beauty and early, gentle, womanly ways. And now, think of the
havoc! the distorted face, the foul words, the blasphemous thoughts! And is

this worse than our sinful case? Are not the devils that possessus as realand
powerful?
II. An example of the cleansing powerof Christ.
We know nothing about how she had come under His merciful eye, nor any of
the circumstances ofher healing, but only that this woman, with whom the
serpent was so closelyintertwined, as in some pictures of Eve’s temptation,
was not beyond His reach, and was setfree. Note-There is no condition of
human misery which Christ cannot alleviate.
None is so sunk in sin that He cannotredeem them.
For all in the world there is hope.
Look on the extremest forms of sin. We can regardthem all with the
assurance thatChrist can cleanse them-prostitutes, thieves, respectable
worldlings.
None is so bad as to have lost His love.
None is so bad as to be excluded from the purpose of His death.
None is so bad as to be beyond the reachof His cleansing power.
None has wanderedso far that he cannot come back.
Think of the earliestbelievers-a thief, a ‘woman that was a sinner,’ this Mary,
a Zacchæus, a persecuting Paul, a rude, rough jailer, etc.
Remember Paul’s description of a class of the Corinthian saints-’suchwere
some of you.’
As long as man is man, so long is God ready to receive him back. There is no
place where sun does not shine. No heart is given over to irremediable
hardness. None ever comes to Christ in vain.
The Saviour is greaterthan all our sins.
The deliverance is more than sufficient for the worst.

‘God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.’
Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones.
III. An example of how the remembrance of past and pardoned sin may be a
blessing.
Mary evidently tried always to be beside Him. The cure had been perfect, but
perhaps there was a tremulous fear, as in the man that prayed ‘that he might
be with Him.’
And so, look how all the notices give us one picture of a heart set on Him.
There were- {a} Consciousness ofweakness, thatmade her long for His
presence as a security.
{b} Deeplove, that made her long for His presence as a joy.
{c} Thankful gratitude, that made her long for opportunities to serve Him.
And this is what the remembrance of Jesus should be to us.
IV. An example of how the most degraded may rise highest in fellowship with
Christ.
‘First’ to her, because she neededHim and longed for Him.
Now this is but an illustration of the greatprinciple that by God’s mercy sin
when it is hated and pardoned may be made to subserve our highestjoys.
It is not sin which separatesus from God, but it is unpardoned sin. Not that
the more we sin the more we are fit for Him, for all sin is loss. There are ways
in which even forgiven and repented sin may injure a man. But there is
nothing in it to hinder our coming close to the Saviour and enjoying all the
fulness of His love, so that if we use it rightly it may become a help.
If it leads us to that clinging of which we have just spoken, then we shall come
nearer to God for it.
The divine presence is always givento those who long for it.

Sin may help to kindle such longings.
He who has been almost dead in the wilderness will keepnear the guide. The
man that has been starved with cold in Arctic night will prize the glory and
grace ofsunshine in fairer lands.
Instances in Church history-Paul, Augustine, Bunyan.
‘Publicans and harlots go into the kingdom before you.’
The noblest illustration is in heaven, where men lead the song of Redemption.
God uses sin as a black backgroundon which the brightest rainbow tints of
His mercy are displayed.
You can come to this Saviour whateveryou have been. I say to no man, ‘Sin,
for it does not matter.’ But I do say, ‘If you are consciousofsin, deep, dark,
damning, that makes no barrier betweenyou and God. You may come all the
nearer for it if you will let your past teachyou to long for His love and to lean
on Him.’
‘He appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene,’and those who stand nearestthe
throne and lead the anthems of heaven, and look up with undazzled angels’
faces to the God of their joy, whose name blazes on their foreheads, allthese
were guilty, sinful men. But they ‘have washedtheir robes and made them
white.’ There will be in heaven some of the worst sinners that ever lived on
earth. There will not be one out of whom He has not ‘castsevendevils.’
BensonCommentaryHYPERLINK "/context/mark/16-9.htm"Mark 16:9-11.
When Jesus was risenearly, he appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene — “There
is something very remarkable in this passageofthe history. None of the
apostles, ormale disciples, were honoured with the first visions of the angels,
or with the immediate news of Christ’s resurrection, far less with the first
appearances ofJesus himself. The angels in the sepulchre kept themselves
invisible all the time Peterand John were there. Perhaps the male disciples in
generalhad this mark of disrespectput on them, both because they had with
inexcusable and shameful cowardice forsakentheir Masterwhen he fell into
the hands of his enemies, and because their faith was so weak, that they had
absolutely despairedof his being the Messiahwhenthey saw him expire on the

cross, Luke 24:21. How different was the conduct of the women! Laying aside
the weaknessand timidity natural to their sex, they showedan uncommon
magnanimity in the whole of this melancholy transaction. Hence, in
preference to the male disciples, they were honoured with the news of Christ’s
resurrection, and had their eyes gladdened with the first sight of their beloved
Lord after he arose, so thatthey preached the joyful tidings of his
resurrectionto the apostles themselves.”And she went — With the other
women; and told them that had been with him — That is, the disciples that
had constantlyattended him; as they mourned and wept — For the loss of
their dear Master. And they believed not — Such were the prevailing
prejudices that had taken possessionoftheir minds, and so entirely were their
spirits dejected and their hopes blastedby his death, that, though they could
not think this was relatedwith a designto impose upon them, yet they were
ready to impute it to the power of imagination, and supposed that the women
who gave them the information were deceived.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary16:9-13 Betternews cannotbe
brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. And we
should study to comfort disciples that are mourners, by telling them whatever
we have seenof Christ. It was a wise providence that the proofs of Christ's
resurrectionwere given gradually, and admitted cautiously, that the
assurance withwhich the apostles preachedthis doctrine afterwards might
the more satisfy. Yet how slowly do we admit the consolationswhichthe word
of God holds forth! Therefore while Christ comforts his people, he often sees
it needful to rebuke and correctthem for hardness of heart in distrusting his
promise, as well as in not obeying his holy precepts.
Barnes'Notes on the BibleTellhis disciples and Peter - It is remarkable that
Peteris singled out for specialnotice. It was proof of the kindness and mercy
of the Lord Jesus. Peter, justbefore the death of Jesus, had denied him. He
had brought dishonor on his professionof attachment to him. It would have
been right if the Lord Jesus had from that moment casthim off and noticed
him no more. But he loved him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the
end, John 13:1. As a proof that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him
this "special"message - the assurancethat though he had denied him, and
had done much to aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his
Lord and Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, "Tellhis
disciples and Peter," that Peterwas not still a disciple. The meaning is, "Tell
his disciples, and especiallyPeter," sending to him a particular message.Peter
was still a disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith
should not fail Luke 22:32;and as the prayer of Jesus was "always" heard

John 11:42, so it follows that Peterstill retained faith sufficient to be a
disciple, though he was sufferedto fall into sin.
See this passage explainedin the notes at Matthew 28:1-8.
Tell his disciples and Peter - It is remarkable that Peter is singledout for
specialnotice. It was proof of the kindness and mercy of the Lord Jesus. Peter,
just before the death of Jesus, had denied him. He had brought dishonor on
his professionofattachment to him. It would have been right if the Lord Jesus
had from that moment casthim off and noticedhim no more. But he loved
him still. Having loved him once, he loved unto the end, John 13:1. As a proof
that he forgave him and still loved him, he sent him this "special"message -
the assurancethat though he had denied him, and had done much to
aggravate his sufferings, yet he had risen, and was still his Lord and
Redeemer. We are not to infer, because the angel said, "Tellhis disciples and
Peter," that Peterwas not still a disciple. The meaning is, "Tellhis disciples,
and especiallyPeter," sending to him a particular message. Peterwas stilla
disciple. Before his fall, Jesus had prayed for him that his faith should not fail
Luke 22:32; and as the prayer of Jesus was "always" heard John 11:42, so it
follows that Peterstill retained faith sufficient to be a disciple, though he was
suffered to fall into sin.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary9. Now when Jesus was risen
early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, outof
whom he had castsevendevils—There is some difficulty here, and different
ways of removing it have been adopted. She had gone with the other womento
the sepulchre (Mr 16:1), parting from them, perhaps, before their interview
with the angel, and on finding Peterand John she had come with them back to
the spot; and it was at this secondvisit, it would seem, that Jesus appearedto
this Mary, as detailed in Joh 20:11-18. To a woman was this honor given to be
the first that saw the risen Redeemer, and that woman was NOT his virgin-
mother.
Matthew Poole's CommentaryVer. 9-11. Concerning this appearance of
Christ to Mary Magdalene,
See Poole on"Matthew 28:9", See Poole on"John 20:14", and following
verses to John 20:17 who gives a more full accountthan any other of this
appearance.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleNow when Jesus was risenearly the first
day of the week,....Thoughthe word "Jesus"is not in the text, it is rightly
supplied; for of the rising of no other, can the words be understood; and so

the Persic versionsupplies "Messiah", or"Christ";that Jesus rose from the
dead on the first day of the week, agreeswith the accounts of all the
evangelists, andis here expressly affirmed; the phrase, "the first day of the
week",is so indeed placed, as that it may be thought to connectedwith the
following words; as it is by some;fancying there would otherwise be a
disagreementwith Matthew 28:1, whereas there is none; See Gill on Matthew
28:1 though it is true also, that he did appear on that day to Mary Magdalene,
it being the same day he rose from the dead. But the true reading and pointing
are as here placed; and the phrase belongs to, and points out the day of
Christ's rising from the dead; and which ambiguity is removed in the Syriac
version, which renders it, "now early on the first day of the week he rose";
and so the Persic version, "the Messiah", or"Christ, therefore on the
morning of the, first day, rose from the dead": and that he rose early on that
day, is clearfrom the women, who setout at the end of the sabbath, when that
was past and over; and got to the sepulchre by the time the day dawned; and
one of them, while it was dark, and all of them by break of day, at leastby
sunrising, and he was then risen:
he appeared first to Mary Magdalene;in the habit of a gardener, for whom
she took him at first; and this was at the sepulchre, where she staid after the
disciples were gone. That she was the very first personthat Christ showed
himself to, after his resurrection, may be concluded from hence, and from the
accountthe EvangelistJohn has given, John 20:14, nor is there any reasonto
think, that before this, he appearedto his mother, of which the evangelists are
entirely silent. This was a very great favour, and an high honour that was
bestowedupon her; and who had receivedlarge favours from him before:
out of whom he had castsevendevils, see Luke 8:2. And if she had been a very
wickedperson, as she is commonly thought to be, and very likely she had
been, since Satanhad such a powerover her, as to lodge seven devils in her, it
is an instance of abounding grace, thatChrist should heap up favours on such
an one; and she should be the first that he should appear to and converse with
after his resurrection.
Geneva Study Bible{1} Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the
week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, outof whom he had castseven
devils.
(1) Christ himself appears to Mary Magdalene to reprove the disciple's
incredulity.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT CommentaryHYPERLINK "/context/mark/16-9.htm"Mark 16:9-
10. Now begins the apocryphal fragment of some other evangelicaltreatise
(doubtless written very much in the way of epitome), which has been added as
a conclusionof our Gospel. In it, first of all, the appearance relatedat John
20:14-18 is given in a meagre abstract, in which the remark, which in Mark’s
connectionwas here wholly inappropriate (at the most its place would have
been Mark 15:40), πὰρ ἧς ἐκβεβλ. ἑπτὰ δαιμ., is to be explained by the fact,
that this casting out of demons was relatedin the writing to which the portion
had originally belonged (comp. Luke 8:2).
πρωῒ πρώτῃ σαββ.] is joined by Beza, Castalio, Heupel, Wolf, Rosenmüller,
Paulus, Fritzsche, de Wette, Ewald, and others with ἀναστὰς δέ, but by
Severus of Antioch, Gregoryof Nyssa, Theophylact, Euthymius Zigabenus,
Victor, Grotius, Mill, Bengel, Kuinoel, Schulthess, and others, with ἐφάνη. We
cannot decide the point, since we do not know the connectionwith what went
before, in which the fragment originally occurred. If it were an integral part
of our Gospel, it would have to be connectedwith ἐφάνη, since Mark 16:2
already presupposes the time of the resurrection having takenplace, and now
in the progress ofthe narrative the question was not about this specificationof
time, but about the fact that Jesus onthe very same morning made His first
appearance.
As well πρώτῃ as the singular σαββάτου (comp. Luke 18:12) is surprising
after Mark 16:2. Yet it is to be concededthat even Mark himself might so
vary the expressions.
παρʼ ἧς] (see the critical remarks):away from whom (French: de chez). See
Matthiae, p. 1378. The expressionwith ἐκβάλλειν is not elsewhere found in the
N. T.
Mark 16:10. Foreignto Mark is here—(1)ἐκείνη, which never occurs (comp.
Mark 4:11, Mark 7:15, Mark 12:4 f., Mark 14:21)in his Gospelso devoid of
emphasis as in this case.As unemphatic stands κἀκεῖνοι in Mark 16:11, but
not at ver 13, as also ἐκείνοις in Mark 16:13 and ἐκεῖνοι, at Mark 16:20 are
emphatic. (2) πορευθεῖσα, which word Mark, often as he had occasionfor it,
never uses, while in this short sectionit occurs three times (Mark 16:12; Mark
16:15). Moreover, (3) the circumlocution τοῖς μετʼ αὐτοῦ γενομένοις, instead
of τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ (the latter does not occurat all in the section), is
foreign to the Gospels.The μαθηταί in the more extended sense are meant, the
apostles and the rest of the companions of Jesus;the apostles alone are

designatedat Mark 16:14 by οἱ ἕνδεκα as at Luke 24:9; Luke 24:33; Acts
2:14.
πενθοῦαι κ. κλαίουσι]who were mourning and weeping. Comp. Luke 6:25,
although to derive the words from this passage(Schulthess)is arbitrary.
Expositor's Greek TestamentHYPERLINK"/context/mark/16-9.htm"Mark
16:9-20 may be divided into three parts corresponding more or less to sections
in John, Luke, and Matthew, and not improbably basedon these; Mark 16:9-
11, answering to John 20:14-18;John 20:12-14, answering to Luke 24:13-35;
Luke 24:15-18, answering to Matthew 28:19. Mark 16:19-20 wind up with a
brief reference to the ascensionand the subsequent apostolic activity of the
disciples.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges9–11. The Appearance to Mary
Magdalene
9. Now when] On this sectionfrom 9–20, see Introduction, pp. 15, 16.
he appeared first] As yet, it will be observed, no human eye had seenthe risen
Conqueror of Death. The holy women had seenthe stone rolled away, and the
empty tomb, and had heard the words of the Angels, and announced all that
had occurredto the Eleven, but their words appeared to them as “idle tales”
(Luke 24:11). The Apostles Peter and John also, whenthey visited the
Sepulchre, beheld proofs that it was indeed empty, but “Him they saw not.”
The first personto whom the SaviourshewedHimself after His resurrection
was Mary of Magdala. After recounting to the Apostles Peterand John the
rolling awayof the stone, she seems to have returned to the sepulchre;there
she beheld the two angels in white apparel, whom the other women had seen
(John 20:12), and while she was in vain solacing her anguish at the removal of
her Lord, He stoodbefore her, and one word sufficedto assure her that it was
He, her Healer, and her Lord.
out of whom he had castsevendevils] That He should have been pleasedto
manifest Himself first after His resurrectionnot to the whole Apostolic
company, but to a woman, and that woman not His earthly Mother, but Mary
of Magdala, clearlymade a strong impression on the early Church.
Bengel's GnomenHYPERLINK"/mark/16-9.htm"Mark 16:9. Πρωῒ, early in
the morning) Construe with ἐφάνη, He appeared. Comp. Mark 16:12.
However, it was on that very day the Lord arose, before the dawn.

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 9. - Now when he was risenearly on the first day of
the week, he appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had castout
sevendevils. St. Luke (Luke 8:2) mentions that "sevendevils had gone out of
her;" and St. Mark repeats it here, to show the powerof love and penitence,
that she was the first to be permitted to see the risen Savior. The vision of the
angelhad scaredher, and she said nothing; but the actual sight of her risen
Lord gave her confidence, and she went immediately, in obedience to his
command, and told the disciples (see John 20:11-18). She had lingered about
his tomb; her strong affectionriveted her to the spot.
Vincent's Word StudiesThe first day of the week (πρώτῃ σαββάτου)
A phrase which Mark does not use. In Mark 16:2 of this chapter it is μιᾶς
σαββάτων
Out of whom he had castsevendevils
With Mark's well-knownhabit of particularizing, it is somewhatsingular that
this circumstance was not mentioned in either of the three previous allusions
to Mary (Mark 15:40, Mark 15:47; Mark 16:1).
Out of whom (ἀφ' ἧς)
An unusual expression. Mark habitually uses the preposition ἐκ in this
connection(Mark 1:25, Mark 1:26; Mark 5:8; Mark 7:26, Mark 7:29; Mark
9:25). Moreover, ἀπὸ, from, is used with ἐκβάλλειν, castout, nowhere else in
the New Testament. The peculiarity is equally marked if we read with some,
παῤ ἧς.
PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
Jesus Appearing To Mary Magdalene
BY SPURGEON
“Now when Jesus was risenearly the first day of the week, He appeared
first to Mary Magdalene, outof whom He had castsevendevils.”

Mark 16:9
THE doctrine of a risen Savior is exceedinglyprecious. The Resurrectionis
the cornerstone ofthe entire building of Christianity. It is the keystone ofthe
arch of our salvation. It would take us many a discourse to setforth all the
streams of living water which flow from this one sacredsource–the
Resurrectionof our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But to know that He
has risen and to have fellowshipwith Him as such–communing with the risen
Savior by possessing a risen life! Seeing Him leave the tomb by leaving the
tomb of worldliness ourselves–this is even more precious!
The doctrine is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely
than the root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Savior more
lovely than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from
the dead so as to sing of it and derive all the consolationwhichit is possible for
you to extract from this well-ascertainedand well-witnessedfact. But I
beseechyou restnot content even there.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the eye
of faith, and though you may not touch Him, yet may you be privileged to
converse with Him and to know that He is risen–youyourselves being risen in
Him to newness oflife. To know a crucified Savioras having crucified all my
sins is a rich kind of knowledge. And to know a risen Savioras having
justified me and to realize that He has bestowedupon me new life, given me to
be a new creature through His own newness oflife–this is a high style of
experience. Short of it, none of us ought to be satisfiedto rest.
In fine, I would have you this morning, like the blessedMagdalene,among
those to whom Jesus Christ should manifest Himself after His Resurrection,
as He does not unto the world. Let us come at once to the considerationof this
first appearance ofthe Saviorafter He had left the tomb. He appears to Mary
Magdalene. There must have been some reasonfor the choice. We shall notice
first of all, who she was. Then, how she sought. And, thirdly, how she found.
1. First we shall have to take into considerationthis morning who SHE
WAS. Jesus “appearedfirst to Mary Magdalene.”Why? One answer
might be because He chose to do so. For in His sovereigntyHe may
revealHimself to whomeverHe wills and He may withhold Himself
from whomever He shall please. “I will have mercy on whom I will have
mercy and I will have compassiononwhom I will have compassion,”
may be a very grating truth to human ears, but it is a Truth of God for
all that and he who does not acknowledge itscarcelyputs God into His

true place as sitting upon the Throne and doing as He wills with His
own.
I should be content to know that He appearedto Mary Magdalene first and
not to ask anotherquestion if I thought it unwise to ask it, for “He is the Lord
and let Him do what seems Him good.” And if He will reveal Himself first to
her, let it be so. Here I see His Grace and say, let His name be magnified in the
sovereigntyof His love. But we may go a little further into the matter, I think,
and perhaps find some reasons. He revealedHimself first to Mary Magdalene,
a woman. Was it not most meet that a woman should first see the risen
Savior? She was first in the transgression–letherbe first in the justification.
In yon garden she was first to work our woe–lether in that other gardenbe
the first to see Him who works our weal. She takes the apple of that bitter tree
which brings us all our sorrow–lether be the first to see that mighty Gardener
who has planted a tree which brings forth fruit unto everlasting life! A woman
let it be, for woman was lastat the Cross and last at the sepulcher–lether be
earliestto return. The Marys embalmed the Saviorand put Him into the
tomb–let one of their company be selectedto be the first to see Him. Sisters in
Christ Jesus, there is a curse which falls more heavily on you than on others–a
curse which is peculiar to you. But here you have reasonto rejoice since,
“Unto
It is by that child-bearing which brings you sorrow that we have been
delivered–eventhrough the birth of Him, the Messiah, Emmanuel, God with
us–whomyou are privileged first to see because He is peculiarly yours. “The
Seedof the woman who shall bruise the serpent’s head.” The text seems to
indicate that the particular reasonwhy He appearedto this woman first was
because out of her He had castsevendevils. Perhaps no person mentioned in
the Scripture has been more singularly slandered than Mary Magdalene. It
has been supposedthat she was a harlot and her name has been appended to
societieswhichhave the merciful objectof endeavoring to reclaim the fallen.
In that sense let me say Magdalene neverwas a “Magdalen.”She was not an
unchaste woman. I think I canshow you that it is quite impossible that she
could have been. She was a woman of substance and ministered to Christ’s
necessities. She was possessedof wealth and property and spent what she had
upon the Saviorand was not likely, therefore, to have been one who earned
her living by the pitiful trade of her sin. Moreover, she had sevendevils and
that, of itself, rendered her utterly incapable, one would think, of having been
guilty of the sins of the flesh. A woman, a demoniac, mad with sevendevils!
Who would dream that a poor creature under so dreadful a torture as this
could have been a harlot?

The thing is clearly impossible to any thoughtful mind. But mark you, I
believe if Magdalene were here herself, she would not regret that her pure
name has been appended to these poor fallen ones. Here she has communion
with her Lord and Masterwho was, “numbered with the transgressors,”and
who gave Himself and all that He had in order that He might lift poor sinners
from the degradationinto which they had fallen. “No,” Magdalene wouldsay,
“do not blot my name off from yonder building. Do not take it from that
Rescue Society. I, though I have been kept from this iniquity, am well content
to be the patron of all those who seek to win sinners from their sin.”
Nevertheless,there is this about it–and here is where the mistake first arose–
the possessionofa devil is typical, in the Word of God, of sin. When we want
to translate the miracle into spiritual meaning we are always compelledto use
the indwelling of a devil to be the metaphor–the picture of the indwelling of
sin. Now as Mary Magdalene hadseven devils, though she was not, therefore,
any the greatersinner for she could not help the devils being there, yet she
was thereby the more polluted. She was sevenfoldpolluted and she becomes
most rightly the type of the greatsinner, the representative, in fact, of the very
class ofsinners to whom her name has been given.
She was not literally such a sinner, but she was typically so, for in her there
were sevendevils. Typically she stands at the head of those who are the
greatestofall sinners againstthe Law and goodness andGrace of God, but
she was not so except as a type. Now I think you see some reasonwhy she
should be selectedas the first one to be seenby Christ, because she had been a
specialtrophy of Christ’s delivering power. In her He had won a specialand
signalvictory over the hosts of Hell–a perfect number of those evil spirits had
been entrenched within her and Christ’s victorious arm had driven them all
out. She would ever be regardedas a most illustrious specimenof what the
greatSavior canachieve. In this sense, I say, she was fitted to be the first that
Jesus Christ should look upon and speak to. Out of all His disciples who were
daily with Him I know not of one who had experiencedsuch a cure as that
which had fallen to her lot.
Let us learn from this, that the greatness ofour sin before conversionshould
never make us think that we may not be speciallyfavored with the very
highest grade of fellowship. If Magdalene were nota harlot, yet I sayshe
stands as the type of those who are possessorsofsevensins and deadly and
damnable sins, too. And inasmuch as this womanis takeninto the most
intimate communion with Christ and has the priority evenabove Peterand
James and John, there is no reason, poorfallen Sinner, why you should not

have as rich a feastat the banquet of Divine mercy as the very best and most
chaste, the most upright, pure and clean!
If you come to Christ, if the sevendevils are castout of you, all these things
shall never be mentioned againstyou! No, but you shall stand on a par with
those who were preserved by Providence and restraining Grace from going
into gross sins. When the prodigal came back he was not told that he might
eat his father’s bread, but it must be in the kitchen. He was not told that he
might sit at the table, but it must be at the far end, below the salt. No, he sits
at the table as the most honored guestand his father feasts with him as if he
had never gone astray! So is it forevermore with my God, to the chief of
sinners.
You shall not be permitted to eatthe crumbs that fall from the table, but the
daintiest viands shall be yours! Yes, and if you wish it and will press forward
and seek it, you shall have Benjamin’s mess–youshall have more than others.
Oh, though you have been black and vile, He canmake you so white and fair
that He will not blush to treat you as the man in the parable did his little ewe
lamb. You shall drink of His cup and sleep in His bosom and be very, very
dear to Him, sinner though you have been. This seems to be upon the very
surface of the text, that Mary Magdalene was selectedto be the first to see the
Savior because she was a woman–a womanout of whom seven devils had been
cast–a type of a greatsinner.
Again, she was a woman in whom mighty Grace had proved its power. It is a
well knownfact that devils never went out of men willingly in the Savior’s
day. They had always to be castout. You find them foaming at the mouth as
soonas Christ is seenand when He says, “I command you to come out of
him,” the devil tears the man, rolls him in the dust and subjects him to
unusual spasms of pain and agonybefore he will depart. Thus sevendevils
had been driven out of Mary–forcedout of her. Mary was no free-willer. Her
deliverance was achievedby irresistible, eternal, sovereignGrace. And surely
those are privileged to see most of Christ who know that their salvationis not
of man, neither by man, but by the will and powerof the gracious Godalone!
My Brothers and Sisters, there may be some of you who think that the devils
went out of you–I know they did not go out of me. They had to be driven out
with a strong hand and an outstretchedarm. There may be some who boastof
the freeness oftheir wills who think that they cancome to Christ of
themselves–butMary did not–for no demoniacs ever soughtto find Christ.
They rather shunned the Presence ofthe Savior, and cried, “What have we to
do with You? Are You come to torment us before the time?” We rather hated
Divine Grace and despisedChrist. Offers of mercy were lost upon us.

Proclamations ofpardon, though honestly given, we trampled under foot. It
was only when the mighty Jesus, dressedin robes of love, came forth in the
greatness ofHis strength that we were compelledto yield and our captivity
was led captive by His might!
I think that Mary Magdalene was thus selectedbecause she was a choice
instance of Irresistible Grace. As soonas the devils were castout of Mary she
appears to have left whateverher earthly position may have been and to have
become a constantattendant on the Savior. If you will kindly turn to the
eighth chapter of Luke you will see that our Lord was attended not only by
men, but by women. “It came to pass afterward, that He went throughout
every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom
of God. And the twelve were with Him and certain women, which had been
healed of evil spirits and infirmities–Mary called Magdalene,out of whom
went sevendevils, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and
Susanna and many others, which ministered unto Him of their substance.”
It appears, then, that Magdalene was one who abode with Christ Jesus–His
perpetual and constantcompanion. Some heard Him occasionally–sheheard
Him always. Maryand Martha and Lazarus entertained Him with a feastnow
and then–she was always giving Him of her substance. There were many like
Nicodemus and Josephof Arimathea who were on Christ’s side, but did not
take up Christ’s Cross–shedid. In all His afflictions she was afflicted. When
He was “despisedand rejectedof men,” so was she. She was with Him,
bearing His Cross and suffering His reproach.
I like the thought of her being with the Savior. How much she must have seen!
She saw the most of His miracles. How much she must have heard! She heard,
with her ownears, His choice words. Yes, and in the secretconclave where He
opened up His parable to His favoreddisciples, Mary was privileged to be
there with a few other honorable women. I suppose her to have been a woman
of ripe years, as probably most of the others were–a matron. She was
neglecting no household duties. It is clearshe never had any–a woman with
sevendevils could not have had domestic duties.
One would think her friends must have been exceedinglyglad to have her
under the teaching of our Lord. And so long as they knew that she was in
health with the Savior, they probably thought her to be in the place most
fitting for her, as mad people are supposedto be most fitly attended when they
are accompaniedby their keeperor their physician. Having been a demoniac,
she was happily freed from all householdties and bonds. And now what if I
say that Christ was her father, her brother, her husband, her friend, her

children, her everything? He was her family and there was she, daily with
Him.
We read that when Christ preacheda certain Truth, “many of His disciples
went back and walkedno more with Him.” Not so the Magdalene.Let Him
preach whateverHe might, the woman of Magdala still hung upon His lips. To
her, every word was honey, every syllable was a pearl. She treasuredall, she
fed upon all–she abided with Jesus. O dear Friends, I wish we could get into
this position–whenour calling should be to serve Christ and when our place
should be always with Christ. I do not wonder that Christ appearedfirst to
her when I recollectthat Christ had so long been her first, her chief delight.
She had nothing in the world but Christ. It strikes me that very likely her
being a demoniac had so separatedher from all human sympathy that there
were none that loved her, none that cared for her exceptthe disciples and the
societyshe had found through being a followerof Christ. And Jesus, pitying
her, would not send her awayas He did the most of those whom He cured.
One thing we must not pass over–she spent her substance in relieving His
needs. The bag was not often full, while Judas had the keeping of it. And while
there were so many poor and Christ had such a tender heart, I will be bound
to say that no surplus was ever allowedto mold there. But this woman and the
other Marys took care that it should never be quite empty and that there
should be something for the Saviorwhen He needed it. She was not the
woman who broke the alabasterbox of precious ointment over Christ’s head,
but her whole life long her constantincome was her alabasterbox and she
spent what she had in ministering to the needs of her Lord.
Brothers and Sisters, if we would see much of Christ, let us serve Him.
Depend upon it, you that live unto yourselves–thatsave your wealth when you
ought to give it–you are not indulged with that fellowship with Jesus which
others have who have consecratedthemselves and their substance wholly to
the Lord. I am sure that by not giving you miss infinite pleasure. I speak not
now concerning your safety–Ibelieve you are savedthrough faith in Christ
Jesus–butif you do not devote yourselves and all that you have to the
Master’s cause,you never will be admitted to those choicerjoys, to those more
intimate fellowships which belong to those who live close to their Savior in
consecration.
Find me the happiest Christians and I am sure they are those who are most
attachedto their Lord. Tell me who they are that sit most often under the
banner of His love and drink the deepestdraughts from the cup of
communion and I am sure they will be those who give most, who serve best,
and who abide closestto the bleeding heart of their dear Lord. Perhaps for

this reasonMary was privileged by the Grace ofGod to be the first to see the
risen Savior.
II. The secondenquiry was, HOW SHE SOUGHT. If any of us would have
fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, how are we to obtain it? We will use
her as our guide. And first Mary soughtthe Saviorvery early in the morning,
by which we learn when we must, many times, begin to seek our Lord. If you
can wait for Christ and be patient in the hope of having fellowship with Him
by-and-by, you will never have fellowship at all–forthe heart that is fitted for
communion is a hungering and a thirsting heart.
If a man is hungry, you cannot say to him, “Be patient. Wait!” “My hunger
craves,” he says, “give me food. I shall die if I am not fed.” “But you must not
be impatient. You must curb your appetite. Wait, be still.” But the poor man
replies, “I cannot!My hunger is so sharp. Oh, give me bread or I famish! I
will die!” You may reasonwith him, but there is no reasoning with a hungry
stomach. And when a man’s soul begins to hunger and thirst after Christ, it is
not, “Tomorrow I will see Him,” but, “now!Now!Now!” Today, which God
calls, “the acceptedtime,” the Christian thinks to be the most acceptable time.
I would have fellowship with Jesus now.
While standing on this platform my eyes desire to see Him. My head longs to
place itself upon His bosom. My soul would cry with the spouse, “Let Him kiss
me with the kisses ofHis mouth, for His love is better than wine.” If, then, you
want Jesus to revealHimself to you, seek Him now, where you are. This pew
may be as goodas the garden. Your own little quiet room, when the service is
over, will be quite as near to the Savioras was the sepulcher–onlyseek Him at
once and suffer no delays. Come, Jesus come, forthe night is far spent! Arise
greatSun of Righteousnessand chase my gloomaway!
She soughtHim also, as you will observe, with very greatboldness. It is said
she stoodat the sepulcher. The disciples had fled. Readthe eighth verse,
“Theywent out quickly and fled from the sepulcher, for they trembled and
were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” But
Mary, we are told in John’s account, “stood”atthe sepulcher. “Theymay run
who will,” she said. “Nothing can frighten me when I seek the Lord.” There go
the women–Maryand Susanna the wife of Chuza. There they go, all
frightened. There is Peter, the bold Peter–he takes to his heels! And even
John, the loving John, follows afterhim!
But Mary stands still. “No,” she says, “letthe worstcome that can, nothing
can be worse than losing my Master–ifdeath itself should drag me awayit can
only take me into the sepulcherwhere my Savior went and perhaps I might

find Him there. And if so, death were welcome!” Considerhow many fears
this timid woman must have had. It is not always safe to go abroad early in
the morning. Certainly it was not in the city of Jerusalem, whenthe city was
crowded, for a feeble womanto rise early in the morning and go out to the
tomb! And yet she was not afraid.
Let the shadows of the morning be still on the earth–she heeds them not. The
shadows in her own soul are worse to her. You might have supposed she
would have fears of the angels. She was not. She had had dealings with devils
and she was not to be frightened by angels. Sevendevils at once dwelt in her.
She knew too much of the supernatural to be frightened at the fall of a leaf or
any noise that might make her weakercompanions turn pale. If, then, you
would have Christ to be with you, seek Him boldly, Beloved. Let nothing hold
you back. Defythe world! Dare its pleasures!Laugh at its threats! Despise its
promises. Count that “the reproachof Christ is greaterriches than the
treasures of Egypt.” Press on where others flee! Be like a lion where others
turn their backs and Christ will then show Himself to you.
She stoodat the sepulcher. She soughtChrist very faithfully. Some find it
hard to stand by a living Savior, but she will stand by a dead one. All the
disciples forsook Him and fled when He was only in captivity–but she cleaves
to Him when His body is in the sepulcher. Brave woman! You will not only
stand by the Master, but by the Master’s sepulcher. True heroine! You love
even the couchwhere His dead form sleeps. I would that we soughtChrist
after this mode, willing to stand by the very form of sound words which has
been delivered to us–standing by the doctrine as well as by the Person–
cleaving and clinging to the very leastthing that has to do with Christ and
feeling that if He has sanctionedit, it is ours to die for the sepulcher as well as
for the Man.
Oh, if we soughtChrist with such faithfulness we should not long lack the
comfort of His Presence!Still note further that John tells us she, “stood
outside the sepulcher weeping,” whichmakes me remark that she sought
Jesus very earnestly, for as she stood there, not finding Him, she wept. I do
not read that the others did this. They loved the Savior, but they did not love
Him as much. At any rate, they had not her sensitivenessand delicacyof soul.
She wept. I think I know why she wept. “My Savior is gone,” she said, “I
cannot find Him.” Then the thoughts of His sad death came rushing full upon
her soul.
She thought she saw that dreadful scene overagainthat had made her heart
ache and throb. She fancied she saw Him againdraggedthrough the howling
populace, abused and despised with His poor back all coveredwith gore. She

thought she beheld once more that blessedbody torn with the nails. She
marked againthe anguish of the fever which came upon Him as He hung
upon the tree. She had been the last to watch Him. She stoodand watched
Him with the other womenand now she cannotbear the thought of all that He
has suffered and the fear that He has gone, gone, gone forever!She weeps.
And the Savior could not bear to see her weep. I think those teardrops were as
spells that bound the Savior captive and made Him come forth and show
Himself to her. If you want Christ’s Presence, youare sure to getit if you
weepafter it! If you have gone so far that you cannotbe happy unless He
comes and says to you, “You are My beloved”–ifyou cannotbe content
without a kiss from those dear lips–you will have it. He cannot deny those
tears–thoseare heartbreakers to Him–those drops shall burn their way into
His soul! You shall look into the face bedewedwith tears and see the loveliness
and beauty of Him who was “despisedand rejectedof men,” if you stand
outside at the sepulcherweeping.
Nor have I quite done. Mary soughthim perseveringly, for as she wept she
stoopeddown and lookedinto the sepulcher. She had been in it and found
nothing–what made her look again? Have you not, when you have been
seeking forsomething which you felt you must find, pulled out a drawer and
lookedthrough it carefully, turning over everything and yet, being
exceedinglyanxious, you have gone to it once more? You were certain the
objectwas not there and yet you were so anxious to find it that you looked
againand again. And perhaps you returned six or seventimes to the place
which you had searchedthoroughly at first, for you were so desirous to find it.
It was so with her. She thought, “perhaps my eyes may have been blinded–
possibly I may not have lookedin the right corner–Iwill look again.” And so
she stoopeddown and lookedinto the sepulcher–the tears still flowing from
her eyes. This showedher perseverance. Yes, and if we would know Christ, He
is not to be found by those who merely callupon Him once. Cry to Him by the
hour togetherif He comes not to you. If going into your chamber once does
not give you a sight of Jesus, go again, go again, go again! Formark me, if you
should be kept waiting sevenyears for an interview with the greatKing–if you
should once be favored to see Him–if He shall stretchout the silver scepterto
you, you will think yourself all too well rewarded!
A thousand–a million years of seeking would be well repaid by one glance
from His eyes and one look from His face. Therefore seekperseveringly,
patiently and anxiously–desiring that the risen Saviorwould manifest Himself
to you. We have almost done upon this point but we must note that she sought
the Savioronly. All her thoughts were concentratedupon Him. I think if I had

been there, I should have been greatly gratified with a sight of the angels. It
strikes me that I should have been observing what were the forms of beauty
which angelic spirits bear. But she seems to have takenno note of them at all.
She says to them, “Theyhave takenaway my Lord and I know not where they
have laid Him.”
What cared she for angels? If as many had come as the seventy thousand
chariots of God they could not have turned awayMary’s thoughts from Him.
To the gardener, her speechis all full of her Lord, “Sir, if you have borne Him
from here, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away.”
Mary’s heart was seton one object. Like an arrow shot from the bow she sped
right on to the target of her heart’s desire. And, oh, if Christ is your one and
only love, if your heart has castout all rivals, if your spirit seeks Him and
cries out for the Lord–evenfor the living God–youshall sooncome and
appear before God.
To close this point let me say there was much ignorance in Mary. How was it
that she sought the living among the dead? There was very little faith in Mary,
for faith would have told her that He had risen againon the third day
according to His own words. But, oh, there was much love and Jesus
overlookedherwant of knowledge andoverlookedher weakness offaith
because ofthe strength of her love! It seems to me that she loved more than
John did, for John says, “Thenwent in that other disciple and he saw and
believed.” That is right, John! You have most faith. He believes and then he
goes awayexpecting he should see what he believed. But Mary, though she has
far less faith, you will perceive has so much love that she will not go away
from the sepulcher!She just keeps her place there, watching at the post of His
door, not satisfiedtill she can see Him.
What love was this! Brothers and Sisters, if we would see Jesus, we must love
Him much. I would God I loved Him as my heart desires to love Him. I hope
you cansay–
“Yes, I love You and adore You.
Oh for Grace to love You more!”
Let us wake ourselves up to greaterintensity of affection. He loved us before
the stars were made. He loved us with His whole heart. He loved us to
perfection. He loved us unto death. Oh, my cold Heart, why do you not melt?
Oh, my adamantine Heart, why do you not dissolve? Forsuch love as this we
ought to give Jesus our warmestaffection–blazing like coals ofjuniper! And if
we did we should not be long without finding Him–for love would find Him
out and fetch Him to our arms and we should see Him and rejoice in Him!

III. The last point now comes and that is, HOW SHE FOUND HIM. He was
present but she could not see Him. Christian, Christ is present here this
morning though you cannot, perhaps, perceive Him. You have not to cry to
the Saviorto come from Heavento visit you–“Where two or three are met
togetherin My name,” He says, “there am I in the midst of them.” Jesus is
here! In these aisles and pews, in this area and these galleries–Jesusis here. If
you have no communion with Him, Believer, it is because unbelief darkens
your eyes–orgrief, or care, or sin makes you blind.
But Jesus Christwas discoveredto Mary by a word. I want you to notice that
it was not a sermon, it was one word. It was not a long discourse, but just one
word of two syllables and that not a word of mystery, but a simple word–a
word, however, which had this about it–it came from Jesus'lips! It was
personaland went home to her. This is all you want, Beloved, this morning.
Fifty thousand words from me would only wearyyou! But listen to one word
from the lips of the Savior, a personal word, waking the recollectionsofyour
spirit, proving that He remembers you–and cheerfully on the strength of that
word your soul may stay on earth and finish her threescore years and ten.
That one word was her own name–“Mary.” It was spokenjust as she had
heard it in the days gone by. And oh, if He would speak to me as He has
spokenat the hill Mizar. If He would say of Himself as He has done in days
never to be forgotten, “I am your salvation,” we should not want any more!
One word would be enough! Oh, Beloved, keepon seeking Christand you will
find Him in a moment! Do not complain if you have not an edifying ministry,
or because, perhaps this morning the discourse seems dull to you. Do not
complain because you are lax in prayer and have not that enlargementyou
ought to have in Divine things.
One word will take you up as on the wings of an eagle and give you joy and
peace!Notice that as soonas the one word was given, her heart owned
allegiance by another word. She did not make a long speech. The Master’s
heart was too full to say more than one word and so was hers. That one word
would naturally be the most fitting for the occasion. What, then, is the word
which suggests itselfas being best adapted to a soul in the highest state of
devotion? It is a word implying obedience. She said, “Master.”
You can never getinto a state of mind for which this confessionofallegiance
will be a word too cold. No, when your spirit glows the most with heavenly
fire, then you will say, “I would serve You living, dying. Your love has bound
me with cords to the horns of the altar. I am Your servant–Iam Your
servant–Youhave loosedmy bonds.” If you cansay, “Master,”this morning,
you cansay much. If your soul feels that His will is your will, that His Law is

your love–thatyou would, if you could–in all things be conformed to His
image, then, whether you have ecstasiesorno ecstasies,whetheryou have joys
or no joys–youstand in a happy, holy place!
He must have said, “Mary,” or else she could not have said, “Rabboni.” After
she had confessedallegiance,the next impulse was to seek close fellowship.
But she made a mistake as most of us would have done–she wanteda manifest,
carnalfellowship. So she beganto clasp Him and to hold Him by the feet. And
then He said, “TouchMe not.” We are apt to seek forcommunion with Christ
in a sensuous way. Let us be spiritual, Brethren. We shall never have Christ
say to us, “TouchMe not,” if the touch is a touch of faith and love. He only
says, “TouchMe not,” when we want to handle Him with these hands and see
Him with these eyes. Let us walk by faith and not by sight.
And then we may take Him in our arms and keepHim there and hold Him
and not let Him go. And the more endearing we can be with Him spiritually,
the better He will like it. We must shake off all those gross ideas whichstrive
to mix with high and heavenly enjoyment. If you feel a panting this morning
after near and close communion, do not restrain it! Press forward!Put your
hands into His side and your finger into the print of the nails. I know that
worldlings will not understand me, but Believers will. Let me assure you there
is a communion with Christ which is quite as realas if we had the privilege
which Thomas had.
My own soulhas seenthe Savior and talkedwith Him, though these eyes
cannot see Him, though these lips cannot speak with Him and these ears
cannot hear Him! Yet my soul’s mouth has kissedHim and my soul’s ears
have heard Him and my heart’s mouth has blessedHim ten thousand times!
And I hope to do it yet againand will never be satisfieduntil I cando it
continually. Press on, Beloved–youmay say as the Divine Song does, “Oh that
You were as my brother, that suckedthe breasts of my mother! When I
should find You outside, I would kiss You.” Oh, Beloved, hold communion
with Him! Feedon Him for His flesh is meat, indeed, and His blood is drink,
indeed. Further, we may notice as the result of her finding the Savior, she
entered in His service, for He said, “Go, tell MyBrethren.” And awayshe went
to tell others that she had found the Savior! If you have the privilege of seeing
Christ, do not eat the morsel behind the door. Have you found honey? Taste it
yourself, but go and tell others. You cannot have seenmuch of the Savior
unless you desire to let others see Him. Your piety is a sham, a flash in the
pan, a will-o'-the-wisp if it does not lead to practical service.
Are there not some Mary Magdaleneshere who have had sevendevils castout
of them? You have felt the powerof Divine Grace in your heart. You love

your Savior. You long for communion with Him. My dear Sister, as soonas
you have fellowship, let me charge you, in the Master’s name–do not be afraid
to speak to others what the Lord shall say in private to you. We do not want
women to enter the pulpit–that is a violation both of Divine Grace and
Nature–itis as much an offense to goodmanners as it is to God’s own aw. But
you have your own sphere, you have your own place of work–youcangather
your own sexabout you. There are your children, your servants. You have
multitudes of opportunities.
Tell others that Jesus has risen, that there is a risen life–that you know it and
that you pant and long that others, too, should rise from the grave of sin to the
new life in Jesus!As for you, men and Brothers, to whom it pertains more
particularly to be teachers andpastors, I charge you, whateveryou have
found within the circle of fire where the closestcommunion is. Whateveryou
have seenin the deep mines of mystery, whateverChrist has revealed to you
in hours of retirement when you have come nearestto Him–tell it to His
family, feed His flock with it–bring forth these things as choice dainties where
the belovedof the Lord may feasteven to the full. “Go, tell my Brethren,” said
Christ, and so say we.
When the two disciples had journeyed to Emmaus, and at the evening meal
after the toil of the day’s journey was over, were resting themselves, you
remember that the mysterious strangerwho had so enchantedthem with His
holy words took bread and broke it. And then it was knownto them in the
breaking of the bread–but He vanished out of their sight! Well, what
happened then? They had constrainedHim to enter in and abide with them
because the day was far spent, but though now, much later, their love was a
lamp to their feet! Yes, wings also, for they forgotthe darkness and their
despair. Their weariness wasallgone and immediately they began to journey
back the threescore furlongs to tell the gladsome news ofa risen Lord who
had appearedto them by the way!
They reachthe body of Christians in Jerusalemand are receivedby a burst of
joyful news–before they cantell their own tale. Now, Brethren, these early
Christians were all on fire to speak of Christ’s Resurrectionand to proclaim
what they knew of the Lord. They made common property of their
experiences. And so ought we to do. John’s accountof the sepulcher needs to
be supplemented by Peter, and Mary can speak of something further still.
Combined, we have a full testimony and nothing canbe spared. Thus we have
all peculiar gifts and specialmanifestations, but the one object Godhas in
view is the benefit of the whole body of Christ. We must therefore bring our

possessionsand lay them at the Apostles'feet and make distribution unto all
of what God has given to us.
Keep back no part of the precious Truth of God, but speak what you know
and testify what you have seen. Let not the toil, or darkness, orpossible
unbelief of your hearers weighone moment in the scale. Up and be marching
to the place of duty and there tell what greatthings God has shownto your
soul! And if you hear the sweetwords of Christ, I can promise you a holy
flame of bright and beaming joy as you speak of the Truth of God to benefit
the souls of others.
Finally, if there are any enquirers here, as I hope there are–if you are seeking
Jesus this morning and want to be savedby Him and through Him–
remember, poor Enquirer, that Jesus is near you now. There is nothing for
you to do! No climbing to Heaven, no going down to the depths to bring Him
up. He is near you now. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, if you trust
your soul to Him, you are saved! Jesus is here to everyone who will simply
give himself up to Him to be savedby Him. Jesus calls you this morning by
your name–He gives you a specialinvitation to come to Him. Listen to that
name! Respond this morning–say, “Master.”
Take Jesus to be your Lord–He deserves it. You are not your own, but you are
bought with a price. Give yourself, as a blood-bought one, up to Him. He asks
you as He asks Mary, “Woman, why do you weep?” He asks ofeachof you
who are seeking Him, “whom do you seek?” Do you know what it is you seek?
Do you seek some strange feeling? Do you seek signs and wonders, dreams
and visions? Seek them no longer! Jesus is what you want! Take Him and be
blest. There, close atyour side, is the food your hungry spirit wants–looknot
up to Heaven–looknot down to earth! There is in Jesus all you need!
Feedon, Beloved–faithshall fill your mouth. Love shall enjoy the sweetdainty
and your whole body, soul and spirit shall be sanctified by the Divine repast.
May God bless you, dear Friends, all of you, by giving you, like Mary
Magdalene, to seek the Lord.
BRIAN BELL
Mark 16:9-11 1-5-14 Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles I.
Slide#1 Announce: A. Slide#2,3 MachacaDiscipleshipProgram - John Gotz.
B. Slide#4 January is the National Slaveryand Human Trafficking Prevention

Month. 1. Every day people are bought and sold, even young children. HT is
the fastestgrowing organizedcrime, 2nd largestcriminal industry in the
world. HT deprives people of the innate human rights we are all born with,
and is one of the greatestthreats to ideals such as freedom and liberty. C.
What? - This Sat Jan.11this a day setaside to recognize this by our President
back in 2011. I’m calling on the church to join with our team to Fast1 day
this week forHT. D. Why? - Becauseit is our Universal Duty of Compassion.
1. Solomon, the wisestof men said, "Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced
to die; save them as they staggerto their death. Don’t excuse yourself by
saying, Look, we didn’t know.” ForGod understands all hearts, and he sees
you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as
their actions deserve. Prv24:11,12NLT E. Let’s partner with our living God
in bringing the righteousness ofheavendown to sinful earth. As the church
prays, may the Lord respond by bring freedom to the oppressed, and may
righteousness reign. F. Suggestions to pray for: Salvation. Dignity for all
people. Protectionfor the vulnerable. Enabling the exploited. Choices for the
disenfranchised. Safe & civil society. Genderequality & right relationships.
Religious freedom. Sustainable economic opportunity. Politicalstability.
II. Slide#5 Intro: A. Did Mark end on verse 8? Vs9-20 are not in Codex
Sinaiticus & CodexVaticanus [codex/ancientmanu] 1. We do know that
everything we find in here can be found in the other 3 gospels.2. We do know
though it is not found in the 2 codex, is found in all other manuscripts. 3. We
do know no major doctrine is changednor even diminished. 4. We do know it
is in harmony w/the rest of the NT teachings. B. Slide#6 Ken Gire said, “It
was in a garden ages ago thatparadise was lost, & it is in a garden now that it
would be regained.” Ken Gire, Mary Magdalene, pg.130. C. Slide#7 Title:
Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles. 1. "Apostle to the Apostles", an
honorific title that 4th-cent orthodox theologianAugustine gave her. [i.e.
apostle/one divinely sent] D. Let’s read Mark 16:9-11 & then the fuller story
in Jn.20:11-18.
1
III. Slide#8 WHO IS MARY MAGDALENE? A. Slide#9 Overview: Mary
Magdalene was Maryfrom Magdala. [funny picture] 1. A town on the western
shore of Galilee 3m. so. of Capernaum. It was a thriving populous town.
Known for its Dye works & primitive Textile factories. 2. Slide#10 &
presently one of the most important archeologicaldigs going on right now B.
Slide#11 Her Family? No record of parents, marital status, or her age. C.
Slide#12 Statistics:She is mentioned 14 x’s in the gospels. 8 ofthe 14 she is
named w/the other ladies and she is always mentioned 1st. The 5 x’s she’s

mentioned alone are in connectionw/ Jesus’death & res. And in only 1 verse
is mentioned after Mary(Jesus mother)& the aunt of Jesus. D. Slide#13
Prostitute? Was she? 1. Not a shred of genuine evidence that she had a bad
reputation. 2. This came from the idea that this is the sinful womenwho
anointed Jesus feet, like Mary also did, found in Lk.7:36-50. a) History
continued this bad reputation: The R.C. Church startedMagdalen
Houses/Asylums in 1324 forfallen women. (1) Thus became the patroness of
waywardwomen. 3. Art galleries are full of paintings w/her as a voluptuous
or a 1/2 dressedfemale. 4. Slide#14 Film makers continued this idea:
Remember the blasphemous rock musical Jesus ChristSuperstar [1973].
Mary Magdalene was pictured as a prostitute making attempts to seduce
Jesus. a)Martin Scorcese’s film The Last Temptation of Christ did the same.
b) Mel Gibson’s Passionofthe Christ depicted her as a women with a bad
reputation. 5. Again, there is not a shred of genuine evidence that she had a
bad reputation. a) Yet God has plenty to say about women with bad
reputation/pasts/orthose born on the wrong side of the tracks. Matterof fact
He starts off the NT w/4 in His own genealogy. b) Slide#15 Tamar - I’ve
deceived(played the harlet with Judah). c) Rahab - I’ve gota bad reputation
(the x-prostitute). d) Ruth - I wasn't raiseda believer (wrong pedigree, a
gentile, a Moabite). e) Bathsheba - I’m an adulterous. (1) Don’t ever say God
can’t use you because of what you’ve done whether 10 minutes ago or 10 yrs.
ago. (2) Don’t be a Scab Picker. Leave the past as that.....Past!(3) We saywe
can’t pick our relatives. But Jesus did. Especiallyto show His incredible Love
& grace for Sinners. That’s the GoodNews. 2
(4) The stage was now setfor God to do a new thing. Broaderthan Israel, &
deeper than the law.
E. Slide#16 7 demons – Yes, she did have 7 demons…before she met Jesus. 1.
These dreadful inmates must have causedsuchpain & pollution. 2. Such a
horrible & hopeless case.She couldn’t help herself, nor could any human help
her. 3. Her conditions were worse than any of the other ladies we’ve met in
this gospel. 4. She became a specialtrophy of Christ’s delivering power. A
trophy of Grace. 5. Her deranged & nerve rackedmind obviously became as
tranquil as the troubled lake Jesus calmed. 6. Note:the greatness ofour sin
before conversiondoesn’t disqualify us in any way of His favor. a) Mary’s
first step from extreme darkness into the most brilliant light wasn’t the
expulsion of the demons, but her meeting Jesus. It is Christ who casts out
demons, not the expulsion of demons that brings Christ. George Matheson,
Portraits of Bible Women, pg.139 (1) Mary was transformed by 1 ideal, it lit
the metropolis(mother state/city)of her heart on fire & it spread to all the

provinces. George Matheson, Portraits ofBible Women, pg.139 7. Mary
proved that no depth of sin & no possessionof numerous demons shall
separate us from the love of Christ. F. Slide#17 Her devotion: No woman
supersededher holy fidelity to the Master. 1. She traveled w/the other ladies
who helped in taking care of Jesus substance. 2. She left her home to follow
Jesus. She was constantlyon the move. She gave up any personalcomforts. a)
In some of the worlds cultures when a man saves anothermans life the man
whose life is savedbecomes the other mans servant. He does this by choice and
out of gratitude. From the time of her deliverance Mary Magdalene followed
our Lord. She went where He went. She listened, learned and believed in
Jesus. 3. She was the lastat the cross. [she could answeryes to the question in
the hymn, were you there when they crucified my Lord?] 4. She was earliest
to the grave. She was sitting over againstthe sepulcher& watching until
Josephhad laid the Lord’s body to restin the tomb. 5. She witnessedthe most
important event in world history, the resurrection. a) Jesus chooses& permits
her to be the 1stwitness of that Resurrection. [not even his own mom!] b)
Jesus chooses& to appearto a woman w/o hope. His 1st words to her…“why
are you weeping?” c)Are you a woman/man w/o hope? Wait for Him. Wait
for His 1 word for you today.
3
(1) Notice how Christ is revealed to her…by a word, “Mary!” (a) It needed
but one word in His voice, & at one word she knew Him. i.e. My sheephear
My voice. And her heart owned allegiance by another word, “Rabboni!” (b)
We also just need one word of His to turn our weeping into rejoicing, His
presence makes ourheart’s shine. (2) Wait for His one word for you today.
Maybe it will just be your name. How would that be? 6. She was there at the
tomb early. a) Whole new meaning to “the early bird catches the worm.”
(Ps.22:8 tolath) b) When she 1st saw the tomb open she must have thought
that the tomb had been violated. (1) It’s like buying something from the store
where the sealhad alreadybeen broken. Or coming home, you front door is
ajar. c) What did they do with the body? Was it the Romans? Was it the
religious leaders? Did they throw it in the garbage heapof Gehenna? Have
they put it on display somewhere?(like king Saul’s fastenedto the walls of Bet
Shan) d) She mistook Jesus for the gardener(after 2 1/2 yrs of walking with
Him). (1) Who did you mistake Jesus for, before He calledyou by name?
Maybe you thought He was unreachable, untouchable, unknowable? 7. She
was gracedto see 2 angels. [explain ark of the covenantw/angels on eachend]
a) “The woman who was once possessedw/demons finds herselfin the
presence ofangels.” 8. She was invited to be the 1stcommissionedto herald

this news. (Jn.20:17bbut go...)9. She loved her Jesus – He changedher life
forever. Castout the 7 demons. Freedher from untold torment. He gave her
life. A reasonto live. A place in His kingdom. Worth & dignity.
Understanding & compassion. Love and Hope.
G. (11) They did not believe – because the testimony of a woman was not
acceptedin a Jewishcourt? Nope!For they didn’t even believe the witness of
the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus(13).
IV. Slide#18 WE ARE LIKE MARY MAGDALENE A. Slide#19 We like
Mary Magdalene are sinners in need of God’s grace, love and forgiveness. B.
We like Mary Magdalene have been delivered from the kingdom of Satan. 1.
Not all of us may have been possessedby 7 demons but all of us were his
possession, chainedin sin and sentencedto eternaldeath. 2. Maybe your 7
demons are like: Dante’s 7 scars (Pride, envy, anger, intemperance,
lasciviousness, covetousness, spiritualsloth). Or Solomon’s 7 deadly sins (6
things
4
the Lord’s hates, yes 7 are an abomination). Or John Bunyan’s 7
abominations. What were the 7 abominations in your heart? C. We like Mary
Magdalene were unable to help ourselves. 1. Jesus Christmet us and calledus
His own. Then freed us from Satan’s power. Then calledus to follow Him all
the days of our lives and be His disciples. D. We like Mary Magdalene live
life at the foot of the cross. 1. Through the hearing of God’s word we have
joined Mary at the footof the cross. 2. We have seenour dying savior and we
know He is dying for Mary and He dying for us. He is dying because ofour
sins. He is dying to taking our place. Dying to take our guilt. Dying to take our
punishment. Dying our death, once and for all. And for His sake we have
receivedforgiveness and reconciliationto God. E. We like Mary Magdalene
now live standing at the empty tomb. 1. With the eyes of faith we believe that
Jesus was raisedfrom the dead for our justification, proclaiming our
innocence before God. F. We like Mary Magdalene are told by Jesus to go
and tell others the goodnews. G. We like Mary Magdalene share in joy and
hope in a Savior that will never leave us nor forsake us. H. We like Mary
Magdalene aftermeeting Jesus, life would never be the same for us. I. We like
Mary Magdalene have moments that define our lives. 1. With our lives lived at
the footof the cross, and now standing at the empty tomb, knowing what
Jesus has done for us, having faith in Christ’s resurrection...we too join the
greatcloud of witnessesthat has gone before us to proclaim God’s grace in
Jesus Christ to the world. These are the moments that define our lives.

CHRIS BENFIELD
Commissionedwith the GospelMark 16: 9-20
Today we come to the concluding passagein Mark’s gospel. We have
discoveredlasting truth in the time we spent moving through this precious
accountof the life and ministry of our Lord. While it covers a span of
approximately three years, the impact is eternal. It is impossible to
comprehend how the disciples felt at this moment, and years later as they
reflectedon the time spent walking with the Lord. They had experienced
much with Him, and those memories and lessons wouldremain with them
throughout their lives.
While we were not privileged to walk with Jesus physically as they did, I hope
we have receivedguidance through our study that will remain as long as we
live. We have spent months considering the life and sacrifice ofJesus Christ,
the only begotten Son, who came to earth in the form of a man to provide
salvationfor us, reconciling us to God, and guaranteeing eternallife.
The final passagebegins with greatuncertainty, but ends with unhindered
devotion. Our lives are much like the disciples as well. We have moments of
weakness andmoments of triumph. Like these faithful men, we must not focus
on the difficulties, but rest in the risen Savior. His triumphant resurrection
promises eternal life and strength to endure whatever we face in life. As we
close out this gospel, I want to considerthe experiences revealedin the text as
we think on: Commissionedwith the Gospel.
I. The Crisis among the Disciples (9-14)– This passage opens by revealing a
crisis among those who had faithfully followedJesus. Theywere dealing with
doubt and despair, wondering what their future held. Notice:

A. The Revelation(9) – Now when Jesus was risenearly the first day of the
week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, outof whom he had castseven
devils. We know by examining the other gospels thatMary Magdalene,along
with other women were the first to witness the empty tomb. Upon discovering
that Jesus was notthere, she ran to tell Peterand John. They too came and
witnessedthe empty tomb, knowing Jesus had risen from the dead. Following
the encounterat the tomb, Mary remained in the garden, near the tomb.
While in the garden, Jesus revealedhimself to Mary. Not only did she
experience the empty tomb, she also talkedwith the risen Lord. Jesus had
died upon the cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, but the grave could not
hold Him. He came forth triumphant and appeared unto Mary.
January 30, 2019
PastorChris Benfield – FellowshipMissionaryBaptist Church 2
B. The Affirmation (10, 12-13a)– And she went and told them that had been
with him, as they mourned and wept. [12] After that he appearedin another
form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. [13a]And
they went and told it unto the residue. In obedience to the Lord, following her
encounter with Him in the garden, Mary went and told the disciples she had
seenand talkedwith Jesus. The long night was over and hope had risen with
the dawn. Jesus had died, but He was alive. There was no reasonfor grief and
mourning. The Lord had risen just as He had promised!
▪ While Mark doesn’t specificallysay, we know he referred to the two that
Jesus walkedwith on the Emmaus road, about sevenmiles outside of
Jerusalem. Jesus appearedto these and talkedwith them as they traveled,
expounding the Word unto them regarding himself as the Christ. Upon His
departure, their hearts burned within them, knowing they had encountered
the risen Lord. These too came and told the disciples of their encounter with
the risen Christ. Word began to come in to the disciples that Jesus was alive
and well. They now had heard two eyewitness accounts from three different
people, affirming the resurrectionof Jesus!

C. The Rejection(11, 13) – And they, when they had heard that he was alive,
and had been seenof her, believed not. [13] And they went and told it unto the
residue: neither believed they them. After hearing the miraculous testimony of
Mary Magdalene and the Emmaus road travelers, the disciples refused to
believe. Apparently, their hearts remained full of grief and doubt. I am sure
they wanted to believe, but had a hard time dealing with the events of the past
few days.
▪ We may tend to be criticalof them, but we are often filled with fear and
doubt. It is goodto hear of the encounters others had with the Lord, but often
those testimonies do little to encourage ourdoubts. Closelyabiding with the
Lord is the best wayto conquer fear and doubt.
D. The Confrontation(14) – Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they
satat meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart,
because they believed not them which had seenhim after he was risen. After
coming into the midst of the eleven, Jesus chided them for their lack of faith
and hardness of heart. These should have believed the report of the witnesses
and rejoiced, rather than dwelling in doubt and unbelief.
▪ Thomas typically is spokenof harshly because ofJohn’s accountof his
reaction, but Mark records that Jesus chided all eleven of the disciples. It
appears that even Peterand John had trouble believing, even after seeing the
empty tomb. It is easyto be critical and make bold statements when all is well
spiritually, but we need His strength and help in moments of doubt and
uncertainty. I pray we will live our lives mindful of His glorious resurrection
and the hope it affords!
January 30, 2019

II. The Commissionfor the Disciples (15-18)– This is Mark’s accountof the
GreatCommission. While it is similar to the others, he offers insight not
recordedby the others. Jesus spoke of:
A. The Message(15) – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospelto every creature. The disciples receivedthe Great
Commissionfrom Christ. He revealedthe messagethey were expectedto
preach unto the world – the Gospel. While the Lord would use severalof these
men to provide New Testamentepistles that reveal invaluable practical insight
for Christian life and church order, their priority was the Gospel. They were
to proclaim the death, burial, and resurrectionof Christ as the means of
salvationto all humanity!
▪ The Gospelremains the theme of the church today. While Jesus first gave
the GreatCommissionto the disciples, it has been handed down to the church.
We are expectedto proclaim the Gospelunto the world, Acts 1:8.
B. The Measure (16) – He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;but he
that believeth not shall be damned. Jesus revealedthe standard by which men
will be judged. Those who believe the Gospelwill receive salvation, and those
who refuse to believe will be damned in judgment. There is no middle ground
or alternative means. Salvation is inclusive in that it is available to all who
believe, and yet it is exclusive, only those who believe will be acceptedof God.
Men are either savedby grace and acceptedofGod or yet accountable forsin
and in danger of sovereignjudgment in wrath.
C. The Miracles (17-18)– And these signs shall follow them that believe; In
my name shall they castout devils; they shall speak with new tongues;[18]
They shall take up serpents;and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not
hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Jesus
declaredthat the disciples would be followed by miraculous signs and enabled
with greatspiritual gifts. They would have the ability to castout devils, speak

in many languages, and healthe sick. These men would miraculously be
protectedfrom deadly serpents and poisons. We see these miracles in the lives
of the apostles throughout the book of Acts. Even Paul was blessedwith these
abilities. Following his shipwreck, Paulwas bitten by a serpent from the fire.
The native people watched, waiting for Paul to die from the venomous bite,
and yet he lived without becoming sick. Godused these signs and miracles to
affirm His power and promote the Gospel.
▪ These verses, andothers dealing with spiritual gifts have been debated for
centuries. The gift of tongues was always the supernatural ability to speak a
known language previously unknown to the bearerof the gift. It was never
about some made up, supposed“spiritual” language that no one had ever
heard before. I am convinced the gifts of healing and tongues in
January 30, 2019
particular ceasedwith Paul. We read of one accountwhere Paul left
Trophimus at Miletus sick in body. It appears that Paul would have healed
him and brought him with him in the journey, if he still had the ability to do
so. There is power in prayer, and God is able to do as He pleases, but I am
convinced these gifts and abilities no longerexist. Some churches still practice
these verses, handling snakes and drinking poison. I have no desire to be
involved with such nonsense.
III. The Commitment of the Disciples (19-20)– Mark closedhis gospelwith a
record of the devoted commitment of the eleven. Consider:
A. The Majesty(19) – So then after the Lord had spokenunto them, he was
receivedup into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark doesn’t
revealthe lapse in time following the resurrectionand the ascension, but he
does revealthat Jesus ascendedback to the right hand of the Fatherafter He

gave the disciples the Great Commission. He ascendedthrough the clouds,
takenup out of their sight, with the promise of returning just as they had seen
Him takenup. This same Jesus will come againfor the church!
B. The Ministry (20a) – And they went forth, and preached everywhere.
Following the command of Jesus, the disciples were obedient, preaching the
Gospelthroughout the world. In the coming years, the church would
experience radicalgrowth through the efforts of these men, the apostle Paul,
and countless others committed to the Gospel. They receivedand remained
committed to the GreatCommission.
▪ We remain responsible to continue in obedience to the GreatCommission.
This command was not optional, and it wasn’t generational. It was given for
the church to continue until the Lord returns for His church. We are
responsible to do our part in engaging the world today!
C. The Authority (20b) – And they went forth, and preachedeverywhere, the
Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Amen. The Lord workedthrough the lives of these men and others who
followed, using signs and wonders to confirm the preaching of the Word. The
Gospelwas a radical new message, andthe Lord used supernatural means to
convey the Gospeland convince men of its truth, turning to Christ in
salvation. The Lord ensured the Gospelwas proclaimed and prosperous
following the resurrection.
▪ There is comfort and hope in this verse. We do not stand alone in our
efforts to reachthe world. The Lord works mightily among His people to
proclaim the Gospeland reach the lost. We do not minister in our own ability,
but through the power and authority of the risen Lord!
January 30, 2019

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