He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.
Mark 16:9
She could not
help herself, neither could any human succour avail. But Jesus passed
that way, and unsought, and probably even resisted by the poor demoniac,
He uttered the word of power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of Jesus.
All the seven demons left her, left her never to return, forcibly
ejected by the Lord of all. What a blessed deliverance!
From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from hell to
heaven! Straightway she became a constant follower of Jesus, catching His every word, and withal she became His generous helper,
first among that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto
Him of their substance.
When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary
remained the sharer of His shame: we find her first beholding
from afar, and then drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not
die on the cross with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and
when His blessed body was taken down, she watched to see how and where
it was laid. She was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulchre where Jesus slept, first at the grave whence He arose.
Her holy fidelity made her a favored beholder of her beloved Raboni, who deigned to call her by her name, and to make her His messenger of good news
to the trembling disciples and Peter. T
May
I also be such a miracle of grace!"
Charles Spurgeon
