Among the devoted followers of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene stands out as a woman of faith and unwavering loyalty. Her life was transformed by the Lord, who had cast out seven devils from her (Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2). This act of divine liberation bound her to Jesus with an unbreakable devotion, prompting her to follow Him, minister to Him of her substance, and remain by His side through trials that scattered many others. Her place as the first witness to the resurrection shows God’s grace and His regard for all people, and the power of a transformed life to bear witness to the greatest truth of the Christian faith.

Unwavering Loyalty: At the Cross and the Tomb

Mary Magdalene’s commitment to Christ was evident even in His darkest hour. While most of the disciples, save John, had fled in fear, Mary Magdalene remained steadfastly at the foot of the cross, bearing witness to the agonizing crucifixion of her Lord. The Scriptures record her presence:

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

John 19:25
KJV

Her loyalty did not cease with His death. She followed after Joseph of Arimathaea, who laid Jesus’ body in his own tomb, and beheld where it was laid (Luke 23:55). This desire to know His resting place was born out of love and a longing to finish the burial rites, which the coming Sabbath had cut short.

And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Mark 15:47
KJV

Her presence at the cross and the tomb shows her affection and courage.

The Dawn of Resurrection: Her Journey to the Tomb

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and the other women had bought sweet spices to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1), showing their continued reverence and grief. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene made her way to the sepulchre, driven by love and a desire to honor her deceased Lord.

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:1
KJV

Her primary concern was the large stone sealing the tomb, wondering how they would remove it. The stone had already been rolled away.

The Empty Tomb and Initial Confusion

Upon arriving at the sepulchre, Mary Magdalene found the stone rolled away. Her immediate reaction was not one of understanding or hope, but of alarm and distress. She assumed the body had been stolen. Without entering the tomb, she ran to inform Peter and John, the leading disciples, of what she believed was a desecration:

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

John 20:2
KJV

Peter and John then raced to the tomb, confirming Mary’s report of its emptiness and the orderly arrangement of the grave clothes. The other disciple “saw, and believed,” yet “as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead” (John 20:9). After seeing the evidence, they returned to their homes, leaving Mary Magdalene alone at the tomb, weeping.

The Glorious Encounter: Jesus Reveals Himself

Mary’s sorrow kept her near the tomb. As she wept, she stooped down and looked in, seeing two angels in white where Jesus’ body had lain. They asked her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She reiterated her belief that her Lord’s body had been taken. It was in this moment of deep grief and longing that the miraculous happened.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

John 20:15
KJV

She knew not that it was Jesus, and supposed Him the gardener (John 20:14). It was only when Jesus spoke her name, “Mary,” that the truth broke through. The familiarity and tenderness of His voice instantly revealed His identity. Her response, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Master), indicates her overwhelming recognition and adoration.

Jesus then gave her a specific instruction and commission:

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

John 20:17
KJV

This instruction, “Touch me not,” is often understood to mean “Do not cling to me,” implying that her impulse was to embrace Him and prevent Him from leaving. He clarified that He must first ascend to the Father, and her immediate task was to bear witness to this truth to the disciples.

The Divine Commission: “Go Tell My Brethren”

The command given to Mary Magdalene was plain: “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” This was the first post-resurrection evangelistic commission, given not to Peter, James, or John, but to a woman who had been delivered from great darkness. Her commission was to announce the new relationship between God and humanity, made possible by Christ’s finished work. He was ascending not merely to His God, but to “your God,” signifying their adoption as sons and daughters through Him. She was to be the messenger of the greatest news ever proclaimed.

The First Evangelist: Proclaiming the Good News

Mary Magdalene’s obedience was immediate and unwavering. Filled with joy and wonder, she departed from the sepulchre to deliver the message entrusted to her. She found the disciples, who were likely still mourning and confused, and boldly declared the incredible truth:

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

John 20:18
KJV

Her testimony, however, was initially met with skepticism. The Gospels record that the disciples did not believe her, nor the other women who brought similar tidings.

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Luke 24:11
KJV

Yet Mary Magdalene had faithfully delivered her message, the first herald of the risen Christ.

The Profound Significance of Her Testimony

God’s choice of Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the resurrection is significant and rich with theological implications:

  • The First Witness: Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9), a woman out of whom He had cast seven devils, and she told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept (Mark 16:10). God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).
  • Grace Personified: Mary Magdalene’s past, marked by demonic oppression, magnifies the grace of God. Her transformation from spiritual bondage to being the first evangelist of the resurrection shows that God uses the most unlikely vessels to accomplish His greatest purposes.
  • Reversal of the Fall: In the Garden of Eden, a woman (Eve) was deceived and played a role in bringing sin and death into the world. In the garden of the sepulchre, a woman (Mary Magdalene) was the first to encounter the resurrected Christ, proclaiming the triumph over sin and death, thus symbolically initiating a reversal of the curse.
  • The Power of Personal Witness: Her encounter was personal: she saw, she heard, and she recognized. That firsthand knowledge let her speak with authority, even when others doubted.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Faith and Witness

Mary Magdalene’s story reflects the transformative power of Jesus Christ and God’s sovereign choice in revealing His truths. From being a woman afflicted by demons to becoming a devoted follower, a steadfast presence at the cross, and ultimately, the first human to witness the resurrected Lord and proclaim the good news, her journey is one of faith and divine favor. She stands as a powerful example for every believer:

  • Her unwavering love and loyalty to Christ.
  • Her immediate obedience to His command.
  • Her courage to proclaim the truth even when met with disbelief.

Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Lord (Mark 16:9). Her legacy reminds us that God delights in using the humble and devoted to declare His greatest triumphs for His glory.