^{Mark 16:9} “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils. ¹⁰And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.” (Mark 16:9-11; Matt 28:11-15; John 20:11)

The events related to the resurrection of Christ are filled with insights as well as provocative details. In them we find a confirmation of the power of unbelief, as well as the potency of faith. It also becomes evident that Jesus does not always operate according to outward protocol. Sometimes He works in a manner that is conducive to humility, teaching us that apparent privilege is not something in which men are to trust. The fact that Jesus had spent over three years with the twelve, losing only Judas, as it was determined, did not mean they would always be the first to whom revelations would be made. Although they had heard the most, ranking first in privilege, they would be among the last of the ardent disciples who would experience the confirmation of the risen Christ. These are things that cannot be viewed as statistical data from which patterns can be derived and taught. Jesus works in such a way as to accent who He is, thereby promoting faith and hope. Too, sometimes the first to see and know a thing are the last ones to believe – which makes no sense to the flesh. Further, the fact that this is contrary to the mind of the flesh did not move Jesus to cater to the flesh, working in a manner that was less offensive and more apparent to the natural man. Of course, these are all things that are between the lines, so to speak. However, they do shed light on some of the tendencies of religious flesh. As we go through this text, it will become apparent that the manner in which the resurrected Christ made Himself known does not conform to man’s way of thinking. In the appearances themselves, there is a sense in which the first is last, and the last are first. Also, people that were mentioned very little during the ministry of Jesus are accented in the initial appearances of Jesus, and those who were mentioned much during His ministry appear, for a time, to be secondary. All of this is being done that “no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor 1:29). Jesus will always work in such a manner as to accent Himself, confirming that men are totally dependent upon Him for both blessing and insight. If He does not “manifest” Himself, men will not know Him (John 14:21).

“ ^{Matt 28:11}Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and showed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. ¹²And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, ¹³Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. ¹⁴And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. ¹⁵So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”

Matthew alone reports the activity of the soldiers who were witness to the descent of an angel from heaven, the rolling away of the stone before the tomb, and the angel sitting triumphantly upon the stone as one in command of the situation. Remember, the soldiers had felt a great earthquake, and seen the angel whose “countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.” They shook with fear at the sight “and became as dead men” (Matt 28:2-4).

WHILE THE WOMEN WERE GOING. Matthew reports that an angel instructed the women who came to the tomb to “go quickly” and report to Christ’s disciples “that He is risen from the dead,” and would meet them in Galilee. The women “ departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word” (Matt 28:7-8). On their way they met Jesus who confirmed the word of the angel and restated their mission. It is following this that the soldiers awoke from the stupor into which they had been thrown. Then “some of the watch” went into the city – how many we do not know. A Roman “watch,” or “guard,” ^NKJVconsisted of “four to sixteen soldiers,” ^STRONG’S and therefore we assume that a fair number of witnesses made this journey into Jerusalem.

SOME REPORTED TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS. Because the chief priests were the ones Pilate had appointed over them (Matt 27:65), the soldiers make their report to them. For all practical purposes, this was regarded as a Jewish matter, and not one pertaining to Roman rule. These soldiers rehearsed their experience, showing to the chief priests “all the things that were done.” That would include the earthquake, the descent of the angel, the removal of the sealed stone, and the angel sitting on the stone. Additionally, they probably examined the tomb, and reported that it was, indeed, empty. These men had not seen Christ rise from the dead, and therefore could not report that singular event. However, they did know enough to conclude something supernatural had happened – something over which they had absolutely no power. Rather than setting the battle in array, they simply fell to the ground as dead men.

THE CHIEF PRIESTS TOOK COUNSEL. Although these were key men in the Jewish community, associated with the Law, its ceremonies, the Scriptures, and the Temple, they were not men of faith. This confirms that the Law “is not of faith,” or “is not based on faith” ^NIV(Gal 3:12). Because of their unbelief, they could make no correlation between the report of the soldiers and the word of Jesus. Although they had heard reports of Him raising the dead, and perhaps even seen some of those raised, such as Lazarus, they could not deduce that Jesus Himself had risen from the dead. So far as holy conclusions are concerned, their minds were impotent. Their learning, however astute it might have appeared before men, was absolutely ineffective in matters pertaining to Christ.

When these chief priests and elders took counsel together, it was not to review the report with honest and good hearts. Rather, it was to seek means to suppress the report, lest their blunder in rejecting Jesus might become apparent to the people. Therefore, they gave the soldiers “large money,” or “a large sum of money,” ^NKJV instructing them to say “His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept” (Matt 28:13). When these very men stood before Pilate, they told him Jesus had said “After three days I will rise again” (Matt 27:63). However, now they have no recollection of those words, for unbelief has so hardened their hearts that they have become totally unreasonable. They assured the soldiers that if Pilate heard about this, “we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble” ^NIV(Matt 28:14). Oh, the power of delusion and hardness of heart! If we knew nothing more than this account, it should cause us to fear the entrance of unbelief, as the Scriptures say (Heb 3:12)!

It ought to be noted that this report was considered to be perfectly believable. They had told Pilate they feared the disciples would do this (Matt 27:64). The obvious commitment of the disciples brought them to this conclusion. How does the commitment of the professed disciples of our time compare with that of the real disciples of Jesus’ time?

THEY TOOK MONEY AND DID AS THEY WERE TAUGHT. The soldiers quickly acquiesced to this arrangement and began spreading the word. No doubt the word spread rapidly, which would make Jesus appear to be a liar, and His disciples as foolish men.

THEIR REPORT BECAME COMMON AMONG THE JEWS. It is generally thought that the book of Matthew was written between 60 A.D. and 75 A.D. This being the case, at least thirty years after Pentecost and the rapid spread of the Gospel, this report was still being circulated among the Jews. This accents the thoroughness of their rejection of Christ.

“^{Mark 16:9} Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.”

JESUS WAS RISEN EARLY. “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week.” Mark is the only Gospel writer to make this specific statement. When the day dawned on that first day of the week, Jesus had already risen from the dead, triumphing over death and the grave. The resurrection itself was a confirmation of the nature of the New Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, no Divine recognition was realized until men had done the commandments (Lev 18:5; Ezek 20:11; Lk 10:28; Rom 10:5; Gal 3:12). Thus, the Sabbath day, which was the day of rest, came after man had worked, confirming the nature of the Old Covenant. The Scriptures make clear that the Jews never did enter into God’s rest, even though they kept the Sabbath (Heb 3:18-19). The resurrection of Christ, however, confirms that life precedes work, for it is what Jesus is doing now that saves us (Rom 5:10; Heb 7:25).

HE APPEARED FIRST TO MARY MAGDALENE. Mark makes a point of the fact that Jesus appeared “first” to this woman. Luke also reports that Jesus cast “seven demons” out of Mary Magdalene (Lk 8:3). The actual details of that event are not provided. However, it is obvious that Mary had experienced a great deliverance, for even one demon can work havoc in a mortal (Matt 9:32; 12:22; 15:22; 17:18). Now, while she was exhibiting an unusual and bold love for the Master, He honors her with being the first one to see Him in a risen state. John provides the details of this appearance.

MARY REMAINED. John reports that after Peter and John had come to the tomb, went into it, and returned to their homes, “Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher” (John 20:11). She saw two angels sitting on the place where the body of Jesus had been lying – one where His head was, and the other where His feet were placed (10:12). These angels asked Mary why she was weeping, and she replied, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him” (John 20:13). What a tender-hearted person! She thinks that Jesus is dead, and that His body has been moved to another location – yet she refers to Him as “my Lord!” In this, she actually displayed more devotion to what she thought was a dead Jesus, than many do to the living Christ. How must the disinterest and indifference of professing Christians appear to holy angels? That is a sobering question to ponder.

JESUS APPEARS TO MARY. The angels do not reply to Mary, no doubt deferring to Jesus, who is standing behind her. As Mary turns to go, she confronts the risen Lord. She “saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus” (John 20:14). Jesus asks her the same question the angels asked, and adds another one: “Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” Mary thinks this is the gardener, or caretaker of the area, and no doubt supposes that he will be able to answer her question. “Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away” (John 20:15). She gives no thought to how she will move the body, for love does not postulate possibilities. She has already determined what she will do, and will take care of the details when given the opportunity.

“MARY!” Knowing that His sheep recognize and treasure His voice, Jesus simply calls Mary by name. At once she recognizes His voice, for “He calleth His own sheep by name” (John 10:3). Mary responds, “Rabboni, which is to say Teacher.” ^NKJV

“TOUCH ME NOT!” It ought to be apparent that the word “touch” does not mean to merely make contact with the body of Jesus. Not much later the other women will hold Him by the feet (Matt 28:9). After that, He will invite the disciples to “handle” Him, confirming they were seeing a very real body (Lk 24:39). He will also tell Thomas to put his finger into the nail prints of his hands, and thrust his hand into His side (John 20:27).

Here, the word “touch” means to take hold of, or cling to – as in “touch not a woman” (1 Cor 7:1), “touch not” (Col 2:21), and “that wicked one touched him not” (1 John 5:18). “Touch” is to handling what “taste” is to eating. Other versions make this distinction by reading, “Do not cling to Me,” ^NKJV“Stop clinging to Me,” ^NASB“Do not hold on to Me,” ^NIVand “do not hold Me.” ^AMPLIFIED There is a twofold explanation for Jesus not permitting Mary to cling to Him. First, He had not yet ascended to the Father – meaning that the risen Christ was not intended to be embraced in bodily form by those in the flesh. Second, Jesus had a mission that He would assign to Mary, and that would not allow for her to remain with Him.

There are some who teach that Jesus did, in fact, ascend into heaven and present His blood first, then return to appear to the rest of the disciples. This, however, is nothing more than a theory, for Jesus is expressly said to have “entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb 9:12). The Scriptures do not teach expressly, nor do they infer, that Jesus ascended multiple times into heaven. If this erroneous view was true, Jesus would have ascended and returned before He confronted the other women later this very morning.

“¹⁰ And she went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. ¹¹And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.”

I AM NOT YET ASCENDED. John reports that Jesus said to Mary, “ . . .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 20:17b). As I have already pointed out, this cannot mean He was going to ascend at that time, then return, spend forty days with His disciples, and ascend again. Early in Christ’s ministry He told the people, “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before?” (John 6:62). He also told His disciples on the night of His betrayal, “I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:28). Again, during His prayer on that very night, He told the Father He had finished what He was given to do on the earth: “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do” (John 17:4). And again, “And now I am no more in the world” (John 17:11). Both Paul and Peter spoke of Jesus’ return to heaven as a single event (Eph 4:8; 1 Pet 3:22). Paul associates that return with the giving of gifts to men. Peter identifies it with the subjection of all powers to Him. The Gospel writers affirm that He was “received up into heaven” (Mk 16:19), and was “carried up into heaven” (Lk 24:51). Luke states in Acts that He was “taken up” (Acts 1:9). Prophetically, Daniel saw Him returning to heaven one time (Dan 7:13-14). Prior to His ascension, Jesus spoke of that event as entering “into His glory” (Lk 24:26). Peter proclaimed that once the heavens received Christ, He would remain there until everything spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets had been fulfilled (Acts 3:21). Jesus, therefore, ascended one time – and it was not a secret ascension. Rather, it was a public one, taking place before chosen witnesses.

TELL MY BRETHREN. Jesus told Mary to tell His disciples He was ascending to His Father and their Father, to His God and their God. These words would confirm the conclusion of His earthly ministry, and His imminent return to God. He had spoken repeated of this on the night of His betrayal. Twelve times He said to them “I go” (John 14:2,3,4,12,28; 16:5,7,10,16,17). Once He said He was going to “prepare a place” for them (14:2). Three times He said He was going “to My Father” (John 16:10,16,17). So far as the ministry of Jesus is concerned, it would commence in its fulness when He returned to heaven. His forty days with the disciples was to confirm with “many infallible proofs” that He was alive, and was the one to whom the prophets had born witness. There is no record of any major revelations of Himself or the nature of salvation being given during that time. It was a time of confirming.

THE MEANING OF THIS. All of this was intended to teach the disciples that the effectiveness of salvation would be worked out from heaven. That is where Jesus would perform the ministry referred to as men being saved “by His life” (Rom 5:10). Intercession and mediation would be made from there (Rom 8:34; Heb 8:6). Gifts would be sent from there (Eph 4:8). The Holy Spirit would be poured out from there (Acts 2:33).The rule of the kingdom would take place from there (1 Pet 3:22). Now He is speaking from heaven (Heb 12:25). Here is where we are to put our affection and fix our gaze (Col 3:1-2). A person or church that is not heavenly minded has no hope of being saved.

MARY WAS OBEDIENT. Mark reports that Mary “went and told them that had been with Him, as they mourned and wept,” or “while they were mourning and weeping.” ^NASBJohn reports that Mary “came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things unto her” (John 20:18). An eye witness and a faithful report! The witness was one who had traveled with Jesus and ministered to Him. She had been present with the disciples during many of His discourses (Lk 8:1-2). She had been the recipient of great grace, having seven demons cast out of her. Her faithfulness and devotion were beyond question. Surely her words will be good news to Jesus’ own disciples, to whom He had repeatedly made known that He was going to rise from the dead and return to heaven.

THEY DID NOT BELIEVE HER. “And they, when they had heard that He was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not,” or “refused to believe it.” ^NASB Not knowing he was speaking to the risen Christ, Cleopas later told Him that the reports of the women, as well as that of Mary, “seemed to them as idle tales,” or “nonsense” ^NIV(Lk 24:11). That is precisely what unbelief does – it makes truth appear to be nothing more than nonsense: at the best irrelevant, and at the worst the unintelligent ranting of a madman. Thus, the report of Joshua and Caleb seemed to be nothing more that foolishness to the unbelievers of their time (Num 13:30-14:1).

When the word of the Gospel, or any part of the apostles doctrine, is not received, it is because it is not believed. When men do not rejoice in the truth, it is because they do not believe it.

When they ignore the word of God, it is because they have refused to believe it. There is no way to paint such responses in pleasant colors, or explain them away as though they were innocent. Unbelief is serious, and unless men recover from it, they will be “damned” (Mk 16:16).