GOD’S WORD FOR YOU
MARK 16:9
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9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven seven demons.
From this point, Mark lists five resurrection appearances of Jesus. They come from each of what I think of as the four main periods of such appearances during the forty days between Easter and Christ’s ascension: In Jerusalem on Easter, in Jerusalem a week later, in Galilee, and finally in or near Jerusalem once again.
I, Easter Sunday – Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11) and to the disciples traveling to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13). Jesus also appeared to the other women at the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10) and to ten of the Apostles (without Thomas, John 20:19-25). He also appeared to Peter (1 Corinthians 16:5).
II, One week later, still in Jerusalem – Jesus appears to the Eleven Apostles (Mark 16:14).
III, Later, in Galilee – Jesus appears to the Apostles and gives the Great Commission (Mark 16:15-18). He had also appeared to seven of the disciples while they were fishing in Galilee (John 21:1-23), and perhaps it was in Galilee that he appeared “to more than five hundred of the brothers at one time” (1 Corinthians 15:6).
IV, Finally, on the Mount of Olives – Jesus speaks to his Apostles and ascends into heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:3-8). It was also probably in Jerusalem that he appeared to his brother James shortly before the ascension (1 Corinthians 15:7).
Our attention now shifts from the angel at the tomb to Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene. Mark accomplishes this by saying “when Jesus rose,” which obviously had already happened, since the tomb was empty. Matthew records an appearance to the women who had spoken to the angel, but Mark focuses on Mary Magdalene, who was first. It is not strange that she is called “Mary Magdalene” twice in the same chapter (see 16:1), since she is always called this, including twice in chapter 15 (15:40 and 15:47). As in Luke 8:2, we are told that Jesus drove seven demons from her.
The most obscure Greek verb tense appears here. It is the pluperfect. This verb tense describes an act which happened in the past, and which also concluded in the past. So Jesus “had driven” seven demons from this woman, but the driving out was all over (the pluperfect is used for some other descriptions of demons being driven out: Luke 8:2; Luke 8:27; Luke 8:38). In fact, the word Mark uses is “thrown out,” a more picturesque word that paints the image of Jesus hoisting up a demon with a hand on its neck and the other hand on its belt loop, to hurl it out the door. Did the Lord throw out these seven demons all at once, or one at a time, or in groups? It doesn’t matter as far as our understanding goes. He did this for her, and she put her faith in him. I have also counted seven “graces” about Mary that perhaps counter the awfulness of the seven demons. (1) Jesus threw out those demons, (2) Mary contributed money or other support to Jesus’ ministry on earth, (3) She followed Jesus on his final trip to Jerusalem, (4) She was present at the crucifixion, (5) She came to the tomb to anoint his body on Easter, (6) She received the first appearance of the risen Jesus, and (7) She reported to the apostles that Jesus had risen.
Here, Jesus appeared to Mary, and, Mark tells us, Mary was the first to see him. “Appear” (phaino, ϕαίνω) is the root of the word from which we get “Epiphany.” It means to show oneself in an ordinary way (Matthew 6:5) or for what was not seen to appear (as with angels, Matthew 1:20; 2:13). The prophecy about the sending of Elijah is on the appearance of “the day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5, English versions).
Shouldn’t it have been to the apostles that Jesus first appeared? They had not exactly been pillars of a good example. They scattered from Gethsemane, and although Peter and John found their way back, Peter had denied him. John alone was at the cross, and for this he was given charge of Jesus’ mother. Now it was the third day since his crucifixion– the prophesied third day, the one he had specifically mentioned more than once– and where were they all? But the women came, the ones who were in the background during his ministry and who also put their faith in him. And Mary, who was sobbing and wailing (John 20:11). She, too, looked into the empty tomb, but after the other women ran away, Mary turned and saw Jesus. John tells us that she didn’t know who he was, mistaking him for the gardener, the man who looked after the little graveyard. Seeing, not comprehending; blessed, but not knowing just how blessed she was, she saw him. We are poor mirror-images of Mary. How often do we see but not recognize; hear but not comprehend? The matter should be so simple: “It’s me, Mary, Jesus. Don’t you recognize me?” But grief and even the fallen human nature clouds the vision. Who can this possibly be? It can’t be Jesus, because I’m not looking for Jesus to be standing, walking, talking, looking me in the eye, unbloody, unhurt, unstained, and healed. It must be the little old man who looks after this place, this man who is neither little nor old.
John tells us that Jesus spoke a word to her that made her finally recognize him: her name. “Mary.” Was it the way he said it? Was it that he knew her name at all (the gardener should have been a stranger). Was it his voice? I have been told that when I preach, I have a “gospel voice.” It’s not intentional on my part, but I’m told that people can tell when the Law part is over and the Gospel part has arrived, even before I get to the gospel words of a sentence. Surely this is far more the case with our Savior!
His love for Mary was like his love for us all. We are, each and every one of us, the ones he came to save. Mary “held him and would not let him go” (Song of Solomon 3:4; John 20:17). He told her she couldn’t keep that up, but that she should go and tell his brothers, the apostles. What an assignment! What a message! What a task to carry out!
And she did.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
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Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm, Minnesota
God’s Word for You – Mark 16:9 He appeared