1Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, 13saying, “Say that his disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept. 14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” 15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until today.
16But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them. 17When they saw him, they bowed down to him; but some doubted. 18Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mary’s surname, Magdalene, most likely refers to the town of Magdala in Galilee. She first enters the New Testament narrative as one of several women who minister to Jesus after being “healed of evil spirits and infirmities.” Mary had seven demons cast out of her and was healed of “infirmities” by Jesus (Luke 8:2). She followed and ministered to Him until the end, watching the crucifixion from a distance (Matt 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; John 19:25). She, along with the mother of Jesus, watched where Joseph of Arimathaea laid Jesus' body (Mark 15:47). After the Sabbath, she attempted to anoint Jesus’ body with spices but instead found His tomb empty (Matt 28:1-8; Mark 15:47; 16:1; John 20:1). She ran to get Peter and other disciples, who examined the tomb as well. When they left, Mary Magdalene remained weeping near the tomb. She was given the honor to be the first to meet the resurrected Lord (Mk 16:9; John 20:11-18), and to report His resurrection to the apostles (Luke 24:10; John 20:18)
There are several misconceptions about Mary Magdalene. One is that she and “Mary the sinner” of Luke 7:36-50 are the same person. There is no biblical reason to view these two women as one. Another view is that Mary and Jesus were married and had children. This idea is simply wild conjecture. Although a romantic relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene may be hinted at in the apocryphal Gnostic writings of the “Gospel of Philip” and the “Gospel of Mary,” nowhere in the Bible is there even a hint of this being a possibility.
Matthew 27.56; 28.1-10; Mark 15.40, 41, 47; 16.1-11; Luke 8.2; 24.10, 11; John 19.25; 20.1-18