20. JESUS APPEARS TO MARY Mark 16:9-11 (John 20:1-18) 9 Now when he was risen early--Mark now records the fact of the resurrection. Heretofore, he had only recorded the message of the angel. "He is risen." (Verse 6.) on the first day of the week,--The mention of the day a second time (verse 2) is significant, as if to emphasize that which ever after was to be the day of days. It is of the first importance that Christians maintain the sacredness of the day by assembling themselves around the Lord's table in commemoration of our Lord's suffering and death in eating the bread and drinking the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:26.) he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.--Luke (Luke 8:2) mentions that "seven demons had gone out" of her and Mark repeats it here to show the power of love and penitence. "Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. Jesus saith to her, Touch me net; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God." (John 20:11-17.) She who had been filled with Satan becomes the honored messenger of Christ. 10 She went and told them that had been with him,--"Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her." (John 20:18.) as they mourned and wept.--They, Peter and John, had seen the empty tomb;that was all they personally knew. 11 And they,--The disciples to whom Mary went after she had seen Jesus and to whom she delivered the message of Jesus: "Go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God." (John 20:17.) when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.--That the disciples disbelieved the message of Jesus delivered by Mary reveals how completely they had given away to despair; and notwithstanding the fact that Jesus had foretold his resurrection, they did not expect it.