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(Note: We are pausing “Psalms On Saturday” to celebrate Easter.)
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons (Mark 16:9, ESV).
Let’s consider superlatives — the overused “awesome” and “cool,” along with “fantastic,” “incredible,” and “magnificent,” and words used by younger generations that I would sound weird saying.
We all try to overstate something of importance that we experience.
What words would we describe if we had witnessed (in person) Jesse Owens winning four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics or Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974?
Those words would be superlative.
The word “first” in Mark 16:9 is a superlative meaning “first,” “foremost,” or “primary.” This word describes the greatest event in the history of the world — the resurrection of Jesus!
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus alive after His crucifixion — the first eyewitness. Awesome, cool, incredible, magnificent, and fantastic fall short of describing the event, and Scripture simply uses first.
We don’t get better than first.
No one remembers who came in second at the Masters Tournament, and we remember Simone Biles’s gold medal in Paris and not who won the silver medal. No one strives for second or third in a contest but first.
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus alive. Let’s savor her moment. . .
She turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:14-17a).
In Mary’s celebration, she broke all protocols in Jewish custom as a woman didn’t spontaneously embrace a male in public who she was not married to. It was considered a form of adultery, and embracing a king could get you executed.
Jesus said to Mary, “Stop clinging to me!”
One of the great understatements of humor in the Bible but an acceptable reward of being first. I don’t like to be hugged, so I get the no-hugging rule of Jesus, but Jesus had a different reason for his caution. . .
I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God (John 20:17b).
Mary was first, then two other Marys, Peter and John, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the ten disciples in a locked room. A week later, all 11 disciples, including Thomas, a couple of sightings on the Sea of Galilee, and according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, over 500 at one time.
There were many sightings soon after Jesus’ resurrection, but Mary Magdalene was first. We aren’t first, but Jesus ascended to heaven, He’s praying for us, and He will soon return.
If I’m still here, I intend to be the first to see Him in the clouds.